Certification Matters WINTER 2014
A PHENOMENAL YEAR HELLO, TELEHEALTH
IS MARYLAND A MODEL FOR TELEHEALTH? PAGE 3
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE ACA AGE PAGE 4
THE NEW OT ™ GAMING PLATFORM NBCOT LAUNCHES A BREAKTHROUGH SELF-REFLECTION TECHNOLOGY PAGE 8
Welcome to the 2014 edition of Certification Matters, the annual newsletter of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100 Gaithersburg, MD 20877 USA (301) 990-7979 info@nbcot.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS The President’s Letter
A Look Back at a Phenomenal Year
Breaking Down Barriers to Care
Is Maryland a Model for Telehealth?
The Evidence Evolution
The Importance of Documenting Evidence-Based Practice in the ACA Age
2014 Year in Review
An Infographic Centerspread
Game On
NBCOT Launches OT Gaming Platform™
Measuring Up
NBCOT Awards Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant to Research Continuing Competence
With Gratitude
NBCOT Volunteers Are the Difference
Renewals Start at MyNBCOT
Portal Makes Preparation Easy
NBCOT Goes Global
Summit Unites OT Regulators
OT Student Leaders Stand Out
AOTF Honors Exceptional Students with NBCOT Endowed Scholarships
Navigating Changes, Challenges
State Regulators Gather to Plot Course
In Perfect Alignment
Maryland Recognizes NBCOT Standards
Welcome Aboard
New Board Member Ann Glore
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OUR MISSION Serving the public interest by advancing client care and professional practice through evidence-based certification standards and the validation of knowledge essential for effective practice in occupational therapy. 2
THE PRESIDENT’S LETTER
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CARE
A Look Back at a Phenomenal Year
Is Maryland a Model for Telehealth?
BY PAUL GRACE, PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BY DONNA ASHMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARYLAND BOARD OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
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hat a phenomenal year for occupational therapy and for NBCOT in particular. The pages of this newsletter brim with exciting developments and highlights that speak volumes of the leadership guiding our field forward— around the country and around the world. Many of the accomplishments called out here trace their roots to the strategic values of the NBCOT Board of Directors, past and present. Through the years, board members have focused collectively on boosting our certificants’ competency, enhancing organizational excellence and strengthening community. Some milestones were especially influential in shaping our success. In 2002, the NBCOT Board of Directors, led by then-president Randy Strickland, launched Phase II of the Certification Renewal Program. The program’s objectives were to: 1. Set reasonable renewal requirements for all certificants; 2. Develop meaningful and accessible options for professional development activities; and 3. Adapt to meet the needs of the changing health care delivery systems, regulatory bodies and—most importantly—certificants. Since Phase II began, our certification renewal rate has consistently reached 90 percent or more. We further strengthened our commitment to certificants in 2012, when our Board of Directors, led by chair Barbara Larson, responded to a call by the Institute of Medicine to focus on competency resources for allied health workers. The goal: to enhance outcomes by using evidence in practice. The board approved the development of various evidencebased resources for OTR and COTA. Starting that year, all new and renewing certificants received free access to ProQuest, a database of evidence-based studies, clinical trials, practice information and research in the OT field. And I’m excited to announce we’re offering more evidence-based resources in 2015 in the form of a virtual game setting. The new OT Gaming Platform™ empowers you to verify your practice strengths in a fun and engaging virtual setting that
mirrors everyday client interactions you may encounter. Like ProQuest, these resources will be available at no charge, to certificants in good standing with NBCOT. In our ongoing pursuit of organizational excellence NBCOT launched a new online certification verification service in spring 2014, called E-Verify. We have seen a marked increase in verification checks since day one. This no-fee service supports, in part, the core of our public protection mission. Additionally, OTR and COTA certificants can continue to have confidence that our policies, requirements and competency assessment procedures satisfy all personnel accreditation standards. This past year, NBCOT once again met the rigorous accreditation standards of both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). In fact, NBCOT is the only national certification organization accredited by both of these independent bodies. There are far too many highlights to mention all of them here. You will read about steps taken this year in telehealth and regulations. You’ll see why evidencebased documentation is more important than ever before. And you’ll discover more examples of how we are committed to advancing the public reliance and demand for the OTR and COTA credential, as the provider of choice for OT. All of us at NBCOT value and appreciate your continued support. Here’s wishing you continued success and many more highlights of your own in the year to come. Regards,
Paul Grace President/Chief Executive Officer CERTIFICATION MATTERS
magine a boy, seven years old, in need of occupational therapy. Yet his compromised immune system requires isolation. And the therapist best suited to deliver his care lives three hours away. This was the scenario facing Robyn Chu, MOT, OTR/L, Director of Growing Healthy Children Therapy Services in California. Upon request from the child’s family, Robyn made the long trip. She donned a hazardous materials suit to perform the inperson evaluation. The boy, with the body of an 18-month-old toddler, could only write a few letters, could not hold scissors, and used a feeding tube. Knowing traditional therapy sessions would not be feasible, Robyn worked with the boy and his mom weekly using the Internet and a webcam. After a year and a half, the improvements were undeniable. The child could write sentences without a model, cut shapes with scissors, and he no longer depended on a feeding tube. His trunk strengthened to the point where he could maintain an upright posture. He lived hospital-free the entire time—a personal best. Robyn and her client exemplified the power and promise of telehealth in occupational therapy. And I’m excited to say more of us may be doing the same very soon.
NOT JUST FOR BIG STATES
Maryland has long explored telehealth options, given our close proximity to four bordering states and Washington, D.C. Therapists here often lose the ability to treat patients who move minutes away over state lines or hours away to different counties. Thanks to the emergence of new and better technology, telehealth has gained momentum as an acceptable, mainstream means for delivering quality occupational therapy services. In 2013, the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy published a position statement regarding the use
of intrastate telehealth practices for occupational therapy. The Board’s position allows Maryland occupational therapists to provide services to clients in physically distant locations within the state. While it does not yet allow for licensure portability—permitting practice across state lines—this authorization is a decisive step in the right direction.
all health care practitioners. She believes occupational therapists have a unique opportunity to be leaders in telehealth. And she’s right. This opportunity lies in the ability to overcome many barriers, not only in licensure laws, but also in payments and reimbursement, HIPAA compliance and patient rights, and malpractice insurance coverage, among others.
DEFINING PROGRESS
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
At a September 2014 workshop, the Maryland Board of OT voted to develop a regulatory proposal to include a definition and guidelines for the use of telehealth in the practice of occupational therapy. Coincidentally, The Maryland Telemedicine Task Force, which formed to study and expand the use of telehealth statewide, released its initial report. The task force is recommending the following definition:
Many eyes throughout our field will soon turn to Maryland when the task force officially publishes its recommendations for public comment. In addition, NBCOT recently explored the current and future state of licensure portability and telehealth at its 20th Annual Regulatory Conference. These outcomes and discussions could pave the way for other states to establish their own telehealth frameworks.
The Board’s position allows Maryland occupational therapists to provide services to clients in physically distant locations within the state. While it does not yet allow for licensure portability— permitting practice across state lines— this authorization is a decisive step in the right direction. Telehealth is the delivery of health education and services using telecommunications and related technologies in coordination with a health care practitioner. Rondalyn Whitney, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, who served on the task force’s Clinical Advisory Group, applauded the definition—particularly the shift to include
As long as the controls are in place to ensure the safe provision of care, telehealth holds tremendous promise to expand service delivery and improve the quality of life for those needing occupational therapy. I look forward to tracking and reporting the success of telehealth in Maryland—and seeing other states follow suit.
‘NBCOT’ is a service and trademark of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. ‘OTR’ and ‘COTA’ are certification marks of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. All marks are registered in the United States of America. NBCOT ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2014
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THE EVIDENCE EVOLUTION The Importance of Documenting Evidence-Based Practice in the ACA Age BY PAMELA ROBERTS, PHD, OTR/L, SCFES, FAOTA, CPHQ AND MARIA CECILIA ALPASAN, MA, OTR/L CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
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ajor health care revisions are now underway, with the components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)1 changing how services are delivered and reimbursed. Core to the ACA are the principles of efficiency, coordination of care and cost savings.2 As a result, health care practitioners have become more accountable for patient outcomes, with an intensified focus on identifying the most (and least) effective interventions and professions. For occupational therapy to thrive as a widely recognized3 and powerful force in this era of reform—and to continue providing the best possible care—we as a profession must increasingly define and document our interventions with evidence4. To adapt is not enough. We must evolve.
PURPOSEFUL PRACTICE
Often, occupational therapists and other clinicians think of their practice only within the boundaries of treatment sessions. We may overlook post-session documentation as a vital piece of the puzzle—particularly for demonstrating our value. The information we gather after a session ultimately validates our work and enables 4
us to practice with purpose—to select the most appropriate interventions for patients at the most optimal times. Therefore, to avoid reducing or misrepresenting our value, we must keep an emphasis on collecting information and ensuring it is based on sound, irrefutable evidence. Deb Ouellette, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, a clinical specialist at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, summarized it well when she said, “We must have good documentation skills and include bestpractice techniques supported by recent evidence. This will improve payor sources’ understanding of what we as occupational therapists do and our impact on the functional recovery of patients.” So how exactly do we go about that? Primary elements should include the use of standardized tests, the documentation of medical necessity and skilled intervention, and the integration of individual patient goals.
USING STANDARDIZED TESTS Standardized tests by setting and population are tools that can validate evaluation findings and demonstrate
outcomes. The sequence for testing follows: • Select a test. Approach measurement with a threefold aim: Choose a tool that can measure a patient’s 1. Impairment (problem area), 2. Functional status (how it affects areas of occupation) and 3. Patient value/satisfaction (how important this is to the patient). There are numerous resources to assist with test selection.5,6,7 • Measure at the intervals. Because initial scores require comparisons to know if treatments were effective, selected tests should be used at evaluation, re-assessment and discharge. Interval measurement can also help you demonstrate your ability to make adjustments if specific interventions proved ineffective. • Explain the test scores. Go beyond the purpose of fulfilling a requirement. Note the significance of the scoring at a certain level and what this means to your sessions and your patient. With this evaluation information, you can develop and deliver treatment activities that follow a hierarchy of complexity to achieve skills based on a functional outcome. CERTIFICATION MATTERS
CRACKING THE MEDICAL NECESSITY/SKILLED INTERVENTION CODE “Medical necessity” applies to interventions that require the skills of a therapist to treat an illness or injury.8 “Skilled intervention” describes services that involve decisionmaking and complex competencies or needs that require a well-defined knowledge base.8 To help make sure you touch on these points, try thinking from the point of view of the reader and cite evidence to strengthen your choice of intervention techniques. For example, documentation can justify sessions focused on the activities of daily living (ADL): “Addressing ADL specific tasks in the stroke population is recommended (Level II B evidence) as per published guidelines in the care of the stroke patient by the American Stroke Association7 and included in this patient’s treatment plan.” Documentation gives you the opportunity to articulate your expertise and skills and prove that what you choose for your patients are not random activities but carefully conceived plans that evolve with evidence.
REFERENCES
For the complete list of references, please see page 11. NBCOT ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2014
KEEP PATIENT GOALS CENTER
Most of all, do not lose sight of what is important: Everything in occupational therapy is about the patient. What works for one person may not work on others. Moreover, the collaborative process is important in writing the functional and measurable goals that shape your treatment plan and that play a vital role in documentation. It is important to either show your progress or determine why you haven’t met goals. This demonstrates your ability to analyze and adjust focus and our collective competency as practitioners. There are different frameworks to use in goal writing. One example is a comprehensive goal template that includes the type of task, complexity of task, level of cueing or assistance needed, type of strategy used and measure of success.6
GET FREE EVIDENCEBASED RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS A ll NBCOT-certified OTR and COTA have free 24/7 access to ProQuest—a trove of evidence-based research to support you in your commitment to evidence-based practice and documentation. Simply register for an account with MyNBCOT to access ProQuest, which comprises the most up-to-date studies, clinical trials, practice information and research in the OT field. ProQuest is just one of the ways NBCOT invests in your certification.
PROVING OUR WORTH
Finally, in all that we do, we must stay true to our roots. Our work needs to remain a science-driven, evidence-based profession3 focused on using authentic occupations. And through improved documentation practices, we need to further demonstrate our expertise and our unique contributions to health care. As a field, we have to realize the critical role evidence-based documentation plays in our future—starting right now.
Pamela Roberts, PhD, MSHA, OTR/L, SCFES, FAOTA, CPHQ is the Program Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neuropsychology at CedarsSinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. Maria Cecilia Alpasan, MA, OTR/L, leads the clinical education program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at CedarsSinai Medical Center. 5
INFOGRAPHIC
91%
THE BRAND NEW OT GAMING PLATFORM
This year NBCOT saw a combined 91% renewal rate for OTR and COTA certificants.
2014 YEAR IN REVIEW These programs, products and services are ways in which we work to fulfill our mission to protect the public interest and continue to serve as your practice excellence resource.
92% OF OTR CERTIFICANTS RENEWED 44,486
41,030
POSSIBLE
RENEWALS 40K
INTERNATIONAL & OTED CANDIDATES
NBCOT requires the Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED ) as a method of determining if an international applicant's completed education meets the eligibility requirements to take the certification exam. ®
730
N BC OT
C ER TI FI ED
ONLINE
12K
OUR NEW SITE LAUNCHED ON APRIL 1, 2014
6K
NEW APPLICANTS APPROVED BY OTED SINCE 2013
TRENDING: OT STATES
New certificants in 2014 requested score reports to be sent to these top five states.
INFOGRAPHIC BY WWW.TREMENDO.US
7 Taiwan 5 South Africa 4 Each in the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States 3 Bangladesh 2 Each in Brazil and Jordan
Florida
1,408
New York
1,116
RENEWALS
3K
ACCREDITATIONS
NBCOT is the only national certification body accredited by world renowned ANSI and NCCA.
LAUNCHED FEBRUARY 7 and NOW HAS MORE THAN
55K VIEWS
10K
Philippines India United Kingdom Australia Canada Israel Colombia
12,184
OUR ONLINE VERIFICATION TOOL
0
California
1,070
Ohio
880
TEST VOLUMES
American National Standards Institute NBCOT met all 47 standards every year since 2003
40% 60% COTA
295
OTR
Pediatrics and Rehabilitation are the primary practice areas that new certificants 43% 57% are working in or hope to work in. COTA OTR
1 Each in Argentina, Armenia, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Kenya, Netherlands, Panama, Venezuela and Zimbabwe
NEW CERTIFICANT PRACTICE AREA SURVEY:
Texas
864
55 TOOLS COVERING
Set to roll out in 2015, this 12 PRACTICE groundbreaking resource AREAS empowers certificants to verify their competency across all practice areas, in a fun and engaging virtual environment.
0
20K
413 154 70 17 13 12 9
POSSIBLE
9K
30K
™
87% OF COTA CERTIFICANTS RENEWED 13,964
CERTIFICATION
RENEWALS
In October 2014 NBCOT launched a beta test of
Pediatrics/School Systems Rehabilitation Skilled Nursing Facility Acute Care Geriatrics Orthopedics Mental Health Home Health OT Professional Education/Research, Work and Industry, Management /Administration
16,837
COTA 23% 19% 22% 3% 11% 1% 3% 2% 0%
OTR 27% 25% 12% 11% 6% 4% 2% 1% 1%
PASSED
19%
15K
12,281
10K
11% 10%
5K
0
2013
NEW QCRC CASES TOP ISSUES 31%
12%
PASSED
2014
Number of certificants that passed NBCOT CERTIFICATION EXAMS
National Commission for Certifying Agencies NBCOT met all 21 standards every year since 2012
17%
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DOCUMENTATION PROBLEMS FELONY CONVICTION LACK OF CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED BY STATE PRACTICING WITH NO LICENSE OTHER
Rooted in our mission to protect the public, the Qualifications and Compliance Review (QCRC) program investigates and, if necessary, recommends action when exam candidates and certificants fail to comply with the Practice Standards/Code of Conduct. From January through September of 2014, we received 295 reports.
GAME ON
WITH GRATITUDE
NBCOT Launches Beta Test of New OT Gaming Platform
NBCOT Volunteers Are the Difference
™
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elf-reflection is moving into a whole new era—a virtual one. NBCOT embraces the technology revolution with the development of a virtual OT Gaming Platform™. This breakthrough technology provides an engaging and fun virtual environment that allows customized selfreflection of your professional growth plan. This groundbreaking product was the result of a 2012 practice analysis study (PAS) conducted by NBCOT. In line with the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality, 2003 and Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions, the goal of the study was to give evidence-based direction for individualized programs of continuing professional development. NBCOT used the results from the PAS to create the revolutionary OT Gaming Platform™— changing the face of traditional professional development products. Available anytime, anywhere with an Internet connection, the offerings span all practice areas, including pediatrics, rehabilitation, home health, mental health, skilled nursing, orthopedics, school-based practice, work and industry, administration/ management, and education and
research—all free for NBCOT certificants. The OT Gaming Platform™ is customized for each user and provides tailored feedback after every completed tool with a recommended reading list. Certificants can enter recommended reading references from the list into ProQuest for immediate access to the journal article. After completing modules within the platform, certificants can earn professional development units (PDU) toward their next renewal cycle—all while reflecting upon their evidence-based practice.
IT’S YOUR TURN
See what all the buzz is about. Check out a quick video overview of the new OT Gaming Platform™. Simply scan this QR code with your mobile device.
During NBCOT’s 2014 Annual Regulatory Conference, Genesis Rehab Services’ employees, Carolyn Gatty, OTR, and Elaine Adams, OTR, had the opportunity to preview the new NBCOT Gaming Platform™. Carolyn, who also serves on the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy, Education and Licensure, said she was “very impressed with the interactive capabilities of the products and the focus on clinical reasoning as clinicians use the tools to assess their areas of competency.” Elaine, a member of the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association’s Council on Government Affairs, stated, “I can see the value of these tools in guiding practitioners who are re-entering the field or looking to enter a different area of occupational therapy practice.” Both Gatty and Adams commented that the OT Gaming Platform™ will be a tremendously helpful addition to NBCOT’s library of self-assessment and competency tools. They noted that the feedback report, in particular the provision of professional literature references, helps to keep the focus on the need to ensure that practice is evidence-based and in line with accepted standards of practice.
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very year, NBCOT relies heavily on the tireless work of volunteers who give so freely of their time and professional expertise to support NBCOT in its mission of providing a world-class standard for certification of occupational therapy practitioners. All of us at NBCOT would like to thank our many volunteers for their contributions. Because of you, we are able to keep our finger on the pulse of occupational therapy and develop products and services that strengthen the value of our certification. To apply to become a volunteer, visit: www.nbcot.org/certificant-volunteering.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We would like to invite new volunteers to join us for a variety of fulfilling roles in 2015 and beyond, including: • Item Development (for OTR or COTA examinations) • Certification Examination Validation Committee (OTR and COTA) • Simulation Question Development Committee (OTR only) • Continuing Competency Project Development Taskforce • NBCOT Board of Directors
125 VOLUNTEERS
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COMMITTEES REPRESENTING
101 WOMEN 24 MEN
37 STATES
MEASURING UP
YOUR 2015 RENEWAL STARTS AT MyNBCOT
Convenient Portal Makes Preparation Easy
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f you are due to renew your certification in 2015, certification renewal opens on January 2, 2015. But you can start preparing today at MyNBCOT. Launched in December 2013, MyNBCOT is your online hub to manage your OTR or COTA certification. From virtually anywhere, you can check the status of your certification, update your account information and access a wealth of free evidence-based research on ProQuest and RefWorks. On our recently redesigned website, you will find an entire section dedicated to OTR and COTA certificants, full of professional development resources like our PDU Activity Chart. The chart identifies the many ways you can earn the 36 professional development units necessary to maintain your NBCOT certification. MyNBCOT will also be home to the exciting new professional development OT Gaming Platform™ when it launches in early 2015.
NBCOT Awards Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant to Research Continuing Competence
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he ability to gauge clinical competence grows more important with the complexities of today’s health care environment and heightened performance demands. And the question remains—how do you effectively measure an OTR or COTA practitioner’s career-long competence? In a further effort to protect the public interest and promote lifelong practice excellence, NBCOT is investing in continued competency research, with a recent award of a post-doctoral fellowship grant to the University of Florida. The fellow will be hired and directed by William C. Mann, PhD, OTR/L, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida. Backed by this NBCOT grant, 8
the researcher will be charged with considerably advancing our understanding in this critical area. “We are recruiting a post-doctoral fellow who will study issues related to professional competence,” said Mann, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida, where he also serves as Director of the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program. “We plan to have the fellowship in place in January 2015. The salary is very competitive and the university has excellent support resources,” said Mann. The outcomes of this research will include defining core professional and clinical competencies in occupational therapy, examining the efficacy of current
measures, developing new competency measures at the entry and professional level, and exploring the effectiveness of self-assessment and gaming technology tools to support continuing competency. “This is an exciting opportunity to determine how certification and education entities can measure the continuing competence of NBCOT certificants and protect the public as our consumers,” said Joanne Jackson Foss, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Chair and Program Director, College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida. “I feel certain we will also benefit the competency work of other nationally certified health professions.” CERTIFICATION MATTERS
AND...
GETTING STARTED IS EASY:
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IN THEIR WORDS Hear directly from volunteers about what makes
PRACTICE AREAS
volunteering so rewarding in this behind-the-scenes video. Just scan this QR code. NBCOT ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2014
• Access MyNBCOT from the main nbcot.org page • Register for your free account • If your name has changed, download the name change form and complete the process before renewal • Start organizing your PDUs • Visit the professional development section to learn about accruing additional PDUs 9
NBCOT GOES GLOBAL
NAVIGATING CHANGES AND CHALLENGES
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Summit Unites OT Regulators from Around the World cross the globe, numerous governing bodies regulate occupational therapy. Yet there has been little opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about regulation of the profession from a global perspective—until June 2014 when NBCOT convened a summit. The International Occupational Therapy Regulatory Forum in London assembled more than 40 OT regulatory experts from 18 different countries, ranging from Australia to Malta, from the Netherlands to Trinidad and Tobago. “It’s extremely important to look at where the profession of occupational therapy regulation is going and to examine the influences that affect our ability to act globally,” said Barbara Larson, Board Chair for the NBCOT. While attendees were as diverse as the regulatory environments they represented, they quickly found common ground around such trends and key issues as accreditation,
global mobility, governance, and the scope and standards of practice. “This was the first time occupational therapy regulators have been able to sit together and share experiences and challenges,” said Andrew Charnock,
2014 SUMMIT ATTENDEES Australia Brazil Canada Germany Netherlands United Kingdom Finland Malta Sweden
India Iran Ireland New Zealand Philippines Portugal Switzerland Trinidad and Tobago United States
Chief Executive and Registrar for the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand. The subject of continuing competency struck a chord with all attendees, especially given the rapid growth of the OT
State Regulators Gather to Plot Course Forward
profession. Most agreed that the regulatory oversight of this vital metric varies widely— making it a pressing issue for all countries to benchmark and address going forward. Attendees also unanimously agreed that the OT profession will need to continue to grow in line with the world population’s increasing lifespan. As it does, NBCOT will continue to participate in a global dialogue around best practices in OT governance. Following this initial meeting, a community of global regulators is now connected, continuing the conversation about how to optimize systems and processes for the good of clients and patients everywhere. “NBCOT’s goal was to bring together a diverse group of OT regulatory experts from across the world, so that we can learn from each other and share best practices. I feel confident that we achieved that goal and now it’s up to this new community to define where it goes from here,” added Paul Grace, President and CEO of NBCOT.
OT STUDENT LEADERS STAND OUT AOTF Honors Exceptional Students with NBCOT Endowed Scholarships
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or the second year, NBCOT has partnered with the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) to support exceptional students. This year’s recipients of the NBCOT Endowed Scholarship are students from two entry-level and two post-professional occupational therapy programs. Though they represent diverse backgrounds and approaches to the field, they all share a strong commitment to occupational therapy. Let’s meet them.
VIRGINIA CHU already
ANGELA ROBERTS is
pursuing her entry-level OT doctorate at the University of Toledo. She decided to enter the field after many years as a successful graphic designer and newspaper journalist. Erica, one of the top 10% in her class, has both conceived and built a computer-based augmentative communication board. She is also active in the Michigan Adaptive Sports and Cheff Center for Therapeutic Riding.
pursuing her Master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of New Mexico. Angela is as passionate about the science of OT as she is about the non-linear artistic aspects of the field. Her research project, A Multi-Site Survey of Creative Arts in South African Hospice Centers, explores the value of music in OT and ties in with her participation in the University of New Mexico Arts-in-Medicine programming in South Africa. 10
had a PhD in biomedical engineering when she enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago to pursue a Master’s degree in OT. Virginia’s award-winning research combines her engineering expertise with her OT knowledge to focus on the design of adaptive equipment for helping individuals gain mobility. ERICA FREDRICK is
DANIEL M. FICHTER is
pursuing his Occupational Therapy doctorate at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Daniel is committed to learning and creating opportunity for academic discourse, serving as the president of the university’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and Pi Theta Epsilon chapter in past years. Daniel is also involved in the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA). At the 2013 POTA conference in Pittsburgh, Mr. Fichter was one of 18 students who participated in the state’s “New Grad and Soon-to-be-Grad Leadership Development Workshop” where he was paired with a mentor to work on an ongoing leadership project. NBCOT congratulates this year’s scholarship recipients and wishes them continued success as leaders in occupational therapy.
CERTIFICATION MATTERS
ach state has its own approach to regulating occupational therapy. But once a year, regulators gather to share their ideas and exchange best practices. This past October, this anticipated meeting of the minds addressed many of today’s—and tomorrow’s—most pressing challenges and promising opportunities. NBCOT’s 20th Annual State Regulatory Conference, entitled Navigating the Future of OT Regulation, brought leaders together for two days in Alexandria, Virginia. The stimulating forum enabled regulators to learn from each other, engage in a dialogue about various state initiatives and strategies, and gain deeper insight into key regulatory processes. “I gained a wealth of knowledge, and I hope to be able to share much of the agenda with the advisory board ,” said Mitch Lovinger, OTR/L, Chair, Virginia Occupational Therapy Advisory Board. “I thought each of the speakers was compelling and brought
significant issues to the table. I’m hoping to be able to attend future NBCOT conferences and stay in the loop on agenda issues.” Conference sessions reflected the diversity of issues affecting today’s OT regulators. Among the topics discussed were the future of licensure portability and telehealth, the challenges and implementation processes imposed by the Affordable Care Act, the debate about entry-level OT education requirements and the considerations when aligning state and national standards.
“I gained a wealth of knowledge.” Participants also reviewed the issues surrounding a state’s sunset review process. There was also a panel discussion about how to proactively approach the processing of character issues.
“The state regulatory conference far exceeded my expectations. The content was incredibly relevant to the uncharted territory surrounding telepractice and the issue of license portability,” said Tracey Ellis, OTR, Board Member, District of Columbia Board of Occupational Therapy. NBCOT provided attendees with its own update, which included the key metrics of its certification program and the results of a compelling study targeting alternative methods of continuing professional development for OTs. The study led to new evidencebased tools that support continuing competency needs using an innovative gaming-technology platform, which was previewed at the conference. In all, more than 56 representatives from 27 states attended the conference. They returned home equipped to navigate the present and future of OT regulation with enhanced expertise.
IN PERFECT ALIGNMENT Maryland Recognizes NBCOT Standards to Streamline Certification
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s of January 2014, the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice now recognizes NBCOT current certification status of an OTR or COTA as an option for meeting the state’s continued competency requirement. An OTR or COTA who is licensed to practice in Maryland, is due to renew or has applied for reinstatement of a license will meet the state’s requirement by maintaining current NBCOT certification.
By codifying this requirement into regulation (officially COMAR 10.46.04.14 Licensure and Contact Hour Requirements), “the Board saw this change as an opportunity to align state standards with national standards and to improve consistency in the evaluation of course offerings while eliminating redundancy for our licensees and applicants” said Donna Ashman, Executive Director of the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
WELCOME ABOARD NBCOT Welcomes New Board Member Ann Glore
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BCOT is pleased to welcome Ann Glore, COTA/L, CKTP, CSST, to the Board of Directors. Ann currently works for Therapy Solutions/ Infinity Rehab completing registry and travel assignments in the Pacific Northwest region. Throughout her clinical career, Ann has practice experience in lymphedema, hand therapy, pediatric, rehabilitation, acute care and skilled nursing settings. Ann brings to the board more than 20 years of experience in the field, including 11 years with NBCOT providing volunteer service on a variety of certificationrelated task forces and committees. She is a graduate of Duluth Area VocationalTechnical Institute and Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota. NBCOT ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2014
As for NBCOT, Maryland’s decision represents another opportunity to partner with a state regulatory agency in the ongoing mission to protect the public. South Carolina and New Hampshire also recognize NBCOT’s certification as an option for completing their states’ continuing competency requirements.
References for “The Evidence Evolution,” pages 4-5 1. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111–148, x 3502, 124 Stat. 119, 124 (2010). 2. Fisher, G. and Friesema, J. (2013). Implications of the Affordable Care Act for occupational therapy practitioners providing services to Medicare recipients. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67 (5): 502-506. 3. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2006). The Centennial Vision. Retrieved September 3, 2014 from http://aota.org/News/Centennial/ Background/36516.aspx?FT=.pdf. 4. Burke, J. P. and Gitlin, L. N. (2012). How do we change practice when we have the evidence? American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, e85 – e88. 5. The Rehabilitation Measures Database. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, n.d. Retrieved September 5, 2014 from http://www.rehabmeasures.org/. 6. Haskins, E.C. et al. (2013). Cognitive Rehabilitation Manual. Translating evidence-based recommendations into practice. American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine: Reston, Virginia. 7. Miller, E.L., Murray, L., Richards, L., Zorowitz, R.D., Bakas, T., Clark, P., Billinger, S.A. (2010). Comprehensive overview of nursing and interdisciplinary rehabilitation care of the stroke patient. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Retrieved September 5, 2014 from http:// stroke.ahajournals.org. 8. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Pub 100-02, Chapter 15, Section 220. Retrieved from https://www. cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c01.
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OT GAMING PLATFORM™
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