Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Occupational Therapy Practitioners Advisory Council Meeting Minutes January 26, 2006 Attendance Members Lynette Buckley Mary Noska MDH Staff Tom Hiendlmayr Susan Winkelmann Kimberly Ruberg Grace Rauchwarter Guests Erin Bernier Karen Sammes Absent Members Merri Vitse Mary Smith Jerline Carey I. Introductions Introductions were done by those in attendance. II. Review and Approval of Minutes from October 27, 2005 Minutes were approved as written. III. Additions/Adoption of Agenda Mr. Hiendlmayr requested the following edits. Under old business, there is no handout for CE approved sponsors – update. He also noted that Wound Care item, Fee reduction item and Web page item should be moved to the left, as these items are not “Legislative Amendments.” IV. Staff Updates as of December 31, 2005 Credentialing Report Ms. Ruberg gave the Credentialing report for December 31, 2005. Ms. Ruberg stated that currently there are 2,619 Licensed Occupational Therapists, and 804 Occupational Therapy Assistants for a total of 3,423. Ms. Ruberg informed Council Members that the program is currently processing renewals for Occupational Therapists. She stated 181 of 617 Occupational Therapist have renewed. Ms. Sammes had questions about renewals after a lapse. Ms. Ruberg stated that the statutes contain information regarding renewal after a lapse. She also stated that if the person had questions regarding a renewal after a lapse they could contact her. Investigation and Enforcement Report Ms. Winkelmann presented the Investigations and Enforcement report that reflects investigation and enforcement activities during the first half of Fiscal Year 2006. She informed the Council there were forty-three investigations opened and fourteen P:\www\docs\divs\hpsc\hop\otp\1_26_06otmin.doc Page 1 of 3 investigations closed during the first half of Fiscal Year 2006. Ms. Winkelmann discussed the public action against Mary E. Thoreson. Ms. Winkelmann stated that Ms. Thoreson’s public action is considered non-disciplinary and would not appear on the website list. Ms. Winkelmann also discussed the revocation of Donna Knop’s Occupational Therapist license. Ms. Sammes asked if the Donna Knop action was on the website. Ms. Winkelmann responded that Ms. Knop’s name was on the website list. Ms. Winkelmann informed Council Members that only names of practitioners are listed on the website, and if a person would like more information about the public action, he or she can call Department Staff. Budget and Expenditure Report Mr. Hiendlmayr discussed the Comparison: Proposed 2006 Budget & F.Y. 2006 Expenditure Report with Council Members. Mr. Hiendlmayr noted that the program spent $11,000 less than budgeted on the salaries line item. He also explained that the fees received for the mailing list requests produces a negative number for the printing/communications line item expenditure. Ms. Sammes stated that many employers are looking to fill positions and this is possibly the reason for the increase in the number requests for mailing lists. Mr. Hiendlmayr explained that the biennial renewal fees are currently low because the program still has two more renewals to process this Fiscal Year. V. Old Business Legislative Amendments 2006 Mr. Hiendlmayr stated that all the proposed legislative amendments discussed at the last Council Meeting have been approved by the Executive Office and language is being drafted. He informed Council Members that he received an email from Ms. Sammes requesting some other changes, but he is unsure whether these changes will be approved by the Executive Office. Wound Care and OT Scope of Practice Mr. Hiendlmayr stated language regarding wound care would not go forward at this time. He noted that he has researched other states regulations and has not found language regarding wound care in any other state statutes. He stated Maryland has stated wound care is in its scope of practice but it is not defined. Ms. Sammes stated that MOTA’s education standards are being revised and therefore they will not be addressing wound care until they can show that school curriculum covers it. Fee reduction discussion update Mr. Hiendlmayr stated that fee reductions would be addressed in Fiscal Year 2007. He noted that Fiscal Year 2007 is a budget year, and this would be the appropriate time to make changes. He stated the program continues to generate a surplus of about $90,000 each year. Mr. Hiendlmayr stated that he and Ms. Winkelmann will be calculating fee reduction budgets, and the Council will discuss this in future meetings. P:\www\docs\divs\hpsc\hop\otp\1_26_06otmin.doc Page 2 of 3 Web Page update Ms. Ruberg presented the Council Members with a handout showing the Occupational Therapy Licensing website. Ms. Sammes stated MOTA’s website would be changing in February so this website should reflect this change. Ms. Winkelmann commended Ms. Ruberg on all her efforts of updating the website. Ms. Sammes asked if the reasons or disciplinary actions would be listed on the website. Ms. Winkelmann responded that in the future the Department anticipates scanning these public records onto the website.Ms. Winkelmann responded to Mr. Bernier’s request for clarification regarding the difference between non-disciplinary public actions and disciplinary actions public actions. The Council had a brief discussion regarding whether the Department checks with other states for actions against the practitioners in other states. Mr. Hiendlmayr responded that the Department requires applicants to request verification from any state where they have been credentialed before they could be licensed in Minnesota. He noted the problem is they may not always disclose all the states where they were credentialed. Ms. Winkelmann noted that criminal background checks and Department of Motor Vehicle checks are not statutorily required before issuing their Minnesota Occupational Therapist’s License. VI. New Business Database development project Mr. Hiendlmayr informed Council Members that the Department is currently working on a database for the Occupational Therapist Licensing Program. He stated he anticipated that this would be completed later this spring. He stated a roster of Licensed Occupational Therapist/Occupational Therapy Assistants in Minnesota would accessible directly from this database. The Council had a brief discussion regarding the issue of peoples’ names and addresses being on this website. Mr. Hiendlmayr responded that on the application applicants are required to list an address through which the Department could send correspondence and it states that this address would be public. They could designate their employer’s address or a post office box if they did not want their home address given out on mailing lists. Next Meeting April 21, 2006 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Snelling Office Park 1645 Energy Park Drive St. Paul, Minnesota P:\www\docs\divs\hpsc\hop\otp\1_26_06otmin.doc Page 3 of 3