NEWS & UPDATES / What's Next...
Multi-State Regional Conference in Tunica, MS was a success! Professionals from MS, LA and AL and speakers from NC, MD and VA gathered on October 20-21, 2011.
Now plans are in the works for the Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas, NV in April of 2012.
Lots of exciting news to report___________________________________________________
Lots of exciting news to reportSince our launch, June of 2010 at the NCCAP Symposium, we have been VERY busy collaborating and aligning for a stronger future.
In, November of 2010, COAP National was a co-sponsor with NCCAP for the First Annual Call for Action meeting. This historic meeting took place at the Raleigh/Durham Holiday Inn, Morrisville, NC. The room was pack with representatives from 38 or more states. NCCAP has done an EXCELLENT job of following thru with the plan of action that was laid out by the participants at the meeting. COAP National continues to support NCCAP!
Next, COAP National asked Idyll Arbor to be included in their sixth edition of a textbook entitled, Long Term Care for Activity Professionals, Social Services Professionals, and Recreational Therapists. Our request was honored and COAP National information is located on page 61.
In September of 2010, a connection was made with the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence (CCME). This group is part of the National Quality Improvement Network (QIO's). Each state has a QIO and the contracts for the QIO's come from CMS. This connection lead to another meeting and another meeting and in February of 2011, COAP was hired by CCME to create a survey to be distributed to all LTC facilities in NC. The focus of the survey was on ACTIVITIES! More than 50% of the surveys were returned, a mind boggling # and this lead to the creation of Learning Sessions. On the e-mail blast that you received, a little bit of information was written. Now for the rest of the story.
The QIO contracts with CMS require that Learning Sessions be offered. It is part of their Scope of Work (SOW). In NC, COAP created for CCME a training session on reducing restraints, falls and pressure ulcers, utilizing activity interventions while promoting a multi-disciplinary approach. CCME contracted with COAP to do provide the trainers for these learning sessions in 8 different locations. COAP National members in NC were hired to do the training. On April 20th, the first session received outstanding reviews. As the learning sessions continued, the reviews got better and better.
In September of 2010, a connection was made with the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence (CCME). This group is part of the National Quality Improvement Network (QIO's). Each state has a QIO and the contracts for the QIO's come from CMS. This connection lead to another meeting and another meeting and in February of 2011, COAP was hired by CCME to create a survey to be distributed to all LTC facilities in NC. The focus of the survey was on ACTIVITIES! More than 50% of the surveys were returned, a mind boggling # and this lead to the creation of Learning Sessions. On the e-mail blast that you received, a little bit of information was written. Now for the rest of the story.
The QIO contracts with CMS require that Learning Sessions be offered. It is part of their Scope of Work (SOW). In NC, COAP created for CCME a training session on reducing restraints, falls and pressure ulcers, utilizing activity interventions while promoting a multi-disciplinary approach. CCME contracted with COAP to do provide the trainers for these learning sessions in 8 different locations. COAP National members in NC were hired to do the training. On April 20th, the first session received outstanding reviews. As the learning sessions continued, the reviews got better and better.
The Carolina Center for Medical Excellence (CCME) offers these learning sessions FREE! Word quickly spread to the CCME office in Columbia, SC.
During the training in Charlotte, NC, a contact from CCME in SC was made. SC wanted to hire COAP to replicate the same session in SC. The date -- June 3rd. This date conflicted with the NCCAP symposium, not a good date for the trainers who planned to be in Erlanger, KY. We tried our best to have CCME change their date, but their hands were tied, the date was set in stone.
So, what to do? After much debate and discussion, we decided that this QIO contract opportunity could not be passed up. The big picture was examined and the exposure in SC had to be seized. Since NAAP had their conference in SC in April and NCCAP has pretty much been under attack from SCAPA and NAAP for a few years, COAP had to now make an impact in SC. Yes, it meant that a few leaders of COAP would miss the symposium, but we can't be 2 places at once.
COAP owns the rights to this presentation! Therefore, we will be venturing to more states thru the QIO's and have talked about producing a training video of the presentation. Our possibilities are endless.
Now on to Baltimore, Maryland, where the National QIO Association is holding their conference the end of June. We are currently negotiating for a reduced vendor rate. Wish us luck!
On another note, COAP National received word on May 27, 2011, that the Coalition of Resident Councils (The CORC) obtained their tax-exempt status. This 501 (c) (3), you'll be hearing a lot more about later this year and beyond.
We're off to a great start. Now we need more members and more volunteers to keep the momentum going. We need "seed" dollars and more exposure around the country.
To our Charter Members ... thanks! We hope you feel that you have gotten your $12.00 worth.
COAP National will be submitting a proposal to NCCAP and to hold one of their upcoming symposiums in 2012, 2013 or beyond in North Carolina.
The support for the Call for Action Meeting was outstanding last November and it would be awesome for NCCAP to return to NC soon.
In the upcoming months, members of the strategic planning committee are planning to have on-line chats. Chats will most likely be held at noon ET on a Saturday. We hope to be able to utilize the NCCAP Chat Room for our chats.
Please drop us an e-mail of support, encouragement and offer suggestions. Remember, we are a membership driven association.
Your input helps guide our course of action. Thanks!
