RA Update: International Fieldwork, Licensure Standards for Re-entry Get Favorable Comments
On day 4 of the 2009 Representative Assembly, the body is still awaiting passage of Consent Agenda Y, which recommends defeat of three orginal motions with which task groups (TGs) have replaced some substitute motions. They are:
Motion 1, which would charge the Commission on Practice (COP) to clarify the various roles of occupational therapy practice in a document to be completed by the next face-to-face meeting i[presumably] in 2010. The motion was intended to clarify the position of OT educators, researchers, etc., who are not acting as clinicians when they do their jobs. Are they "practicing" occupational therapy? This has become an issue in some practice act discussions in various states, as NBCOT requires that these people be licensed as OTs. In 2004, the RA rescinded a roles-clarification document it had passed in 1993 because the assembly felt that delineating roles too strictly could restrict practice but that document did include people in peripheral posts as practicing occupational therapy. The TG does not want to re-adopt any restricting definitions in a profession that continues to evolve.
Motion 2, which moves to charge the COP to develop a specialized knowledge and skills paper for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in oncology. The TG felt that OT literature and educational texts at this date are sufficient to establish the professionals' skills in treating cancer patients.
A COE item that moves to have AOTA President Penny Moyers Cleveland implement the International Fieldwork Collaboration Program [as a business plan] with an interim report by the 2010 RA Meeting and a final report by the 2010 Online RA. The TG recommends defeat of the motion with a substitute motion to follow. Members have indicated that they felt the price tag of almost $11,000 to implement a full business plan for such purposes was prohibitive in this economy. They preferred to see a collaboration to collect resources and make them available to those students who would like to do international fieldwork. Right now there are not very many, but the popularity of this is growing.
Today the task group introduced a substitute motion to redefine and distribute documents created in the International Fieldwork Collaboration Program business plan and post them on the AOTA Web site. They may include an ethics document, an international fieldwork planniing guide, timelines for academic programs and fieldwork sites and a sample memorandum of understanding contract. Discussion on this has been highly favorable.
The Consent Agenda also recommends adoption of AOTA's latest Societal Statement on Autism Spectrum disorders and amendments to the 2007 Bylaws that will help "clarify the differences between state affiliates and election areas, put into effect the changes the RA passed regarding WFOT delegates, and creates a way for the RA to make changes to the Bylaws more often if the Assembly feels it is necessary.
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Under discussion on Agenda A today was Motion 4, to have the Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development (CCCPD) develop guidelines for return-to-practice (re-entry) that could be incorporated into AOTA's Model Practice Act and/or into state practice acts. To date there are no national standards regarding this, which leaves licensing boards out in the cold when it comes to making sure people returning to practice have the skills they need today. Posts on this were also highly favorable. The State Affairs division of AOTA has also been working on this effort.