Updating Strategy for Licensure Legislation in California

Members of the California Dietetic Association will renew their efforts to pass dietitian licensing legislation in 2012 in the wake of the bill being unexpectedly pulled from consideration by its lead sponsor due to political considerations unrelated to RDs.

In an unanticipated move, the sponsor decided not to move the bill forward in the face of opposition from the California Nurses Association, as part of a dispute between nurses and hospitals in the state. Members of the California Dietetic Association were working with the nurses association to try to iron out differences and misunderstandings when the decision was made to put the bill on hold. The meetings will continue, and the sponsor has indicated she may introduce the bill again next year.

ADA has been assisting CDA in building its grassroots team, and CDA took the lead in educating its membership and making visits to state legislators to build support for licensure.

Note: The California Nurses Association (CNA) reportedly went out of their way to kill the bill and obviously succeeded.

Founded in 1977, NANASP is recognized by policy makers and others as an effective advocate for their members and the older adults they serve.

NANASP is proud to be a leading organization advocating for community-based senior nutrition programs and their staff. With members from across the United States, we are able to impact local, state and national public policy to maintain and improve the health and well-being of all older persons.

NANASP is an active member of the aging network including Leadership Council of Aging Organizations and works collaboratively with key coalitions including Americans for Long-Term Care Security and the Elder Justice Coalition on broad issues of concern to the older adults.

NANASP was instrumental in the recent reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. NANASP coordinated efforts to assure that resolutions specifically related to nutrition were adopted at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. These efforts included:

• convening a mini conference on nutrition preceding the main conference,
• having NANASP leadership named as delegates to the council and
• collaborating with partner organizations including the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and the American Dietetic Association to help elevate the importance of nutrition at the conference.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America is the oldest and largest national organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the U.S. Territories. These local programs are our MOWAA Members.

All told, there are some 5,000 local Senior Nutrition Programs in the United States. These programs provide well over one million meals to seniors who need them each day. Some programs serve meals at congregate locations like senior centers, some programs deliver meals directly to the homes of seniors whose mobility is limited, and many programs provide both services.

While remarkable, the one million meals per day figure underestimates the size and shape of our network and its reach and influence in communities across America. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of seniors who receive meals, there are many thousands of professionals employed at the various local Senior Nutrition Programs across the U.S. More notable than that is the virtual army of volunteers who also “work” for these programs. It is said that this group, numbering between 800,000 and 1.7 million individuals, is the largest volunteer army in the nation.

Mission

Renal dietitians dietetic practice group is leading the future of dietetics by promoting and supporting ADA members working in nephrology practice.

Strategic Plan 2006 – 2011

• Promote and increase an engaged, diverse membership that is actively involved with renal nutrition
• Encourage quality nutrition care in Chronic Kidney Disease by providing opportunities for professional education and development of effective patient education materials
• Define scope of practice and standards of professional performance for dietitians in nephrology practice.
• Stimulate, support, encourage and disseminate nephrology nutrition-related research
  Impact regulatory and legislative issues related to nephrology nutrition

Vision

RPG members are a valued source of expertise in nephrology nutrition.

CME MISSION STATEMENT

Purpose

The purpose of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists‘ Continuing Medical Education Department is to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of health care delivery by developing and providing educational opportunities for physicians, consistent with the philosophy and goals of AACE.

Goals

AACE is a medical professional community of clinical endocrinologists committed to enhancing its members’ ability to provide the highest quality of care. Consistent with this value, the following overarching CME goals are defined:

• To offer quality educational programs that will enhance the physician’s competence level in serving as an advocate for the health needs of those with endocrine disorders.
• To facilitate development of other media for offering CME to ensure that physicians receive, in a timely manner, the latest relevant information regarding current treatment modalities and research for endocrine disorders.
• To maximize the value of the CME experience for physicians by ensuring that CME activities are appropriate to the needs of the physicians and that educational content meets the accepted standards for scientific integrity.

Content Areas

The scope of AACE’s CME Program includes the promotion of educational activities in both clinical and non-clinical settings, and is based on the needs and interests of the AACE membership and other physicians with an interest in endocrinology. Educational content includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Clinical Practice
• Practice Management
• Medical/Legal
• Coding & Reimbursement
• Risk Management
• Technological Skills Competence (certification programs and subsequent updates in specific technology use)
• Clinical Research

Target Audience

AACE attempts to achieve these goals through diverse educational audiences consisting of regional, national, and international participants, which include:

• Primary Audience:

1. Practicing clinical adult and pediatric endocrine physicians and surgeons that comprise the majority of AACE membership

• Secondary Audience:

1. Other physicians with an interest in endocrinology
2. Allied health professionals who work for or in close affiliation with AACE members

Type of Activities

AACE CME activities utilize traditional CME and personal interaction with AACE member clinicians, academicians, and subject matter experts through the following learning methodologies:

• Formal lectures and structured educational discussions
• Annual meeting clinical congress program
• Live satellite symposia
• Interactive case studies and workshops
• Clinical workshops with direct hands-on participation by attendees
• Enduring materials (including, but not limited to, printed monographs, CD-ROMs, audio CDs, and on-demand Internet webcasts)
• Board review courses (such as the endocrine self-assessment program titled “AACE Self Assessment Program” or “ASAP”)

The type of activity selected is designed to assure that the activity’s educational needs and learning objectives are met. Activities provided by AACE may be directly sponsored, co-sponsored, or jointly sponsored with organizations that operate in a manner consistent with our overall CME Mission. Joint sponsors must agree to develop activities in accordance with AACE’s policies and procedures, as well as those outlined by the ACCME and the AMA.

Expected Results

AACE CME activities are designed to:

• Enhance competence level of AACE members through delivering the highest quality of care to patients with endocrine disorders, consequently enhancing the health and lives of patients.
• Improve patient confidence and trust with AACE physicians, knowing that AACE-educated and certified physicians deliver the highest quality of care, and that AACE provides them with the highest quality of patient support information.
• Increase support from healthcare decision makers, believing that AACE has a proven track record of the most well-informed, scientifically accurate, and balanced insight into the appropriate care of patients regarding endocrine and preventive health issues; and, that AACE has established credible, validated positions on key healthcare issues that are critical to the formation of efficient and cost-effective policies.

AACE is committed to assessing the impact of each CME activity through post-activity evaluations, which are used to provide feedback to faculty members and activity planners. AACE assures continuous efficacy of its CME Program through Overall CME Program Evaluations completed by the AACE membership on an annual basis. The results of the Overall CME Program Evaluations are used to pinpoint the needs and interests of the AACE membership and are critical in planning future CME activities.

Amended: July 31, 2007

American Diabetes Association

Our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

We lead the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fight for those affected—by diabetes.

• We fund research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes.
• We deliver services to hundreds of communities.
• We provide objective and credible information.
• We give voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

Founded in 1973, AADE  is a multidisciplinary association of healthcare professionals dedicated to integrating self-management as a key outcome in the care of people with diabetes and related chronic conditions.

We are constantly working towards our vision of optimal health and wellness for all people with diabetes and related chronic conditions. To help us reach this vision, we have created a dynamic organizational structure and a strong mission and values:

Our Mission:

Driving practice to promote healthy living through self-management of diabetes and related chronic conditions.

Our Values:

Leadership

AADE champions and encourages effective leadership in our organization and in our membership. Our projects and initiatives set the direction and the scope of diabetes education, and we lead the community by developing evidence-based guidelines, offering sound educational programs and promoting outcomes-driven care.

Integrity

AADE adheres to the highest ethical principles and shares a commitment to excellence in our work and our external relationships.  We respect our members and the individuals they serve, and we demonstrate that through our actions, values and methods.

Diversity

AADE is committed to cultural and professional diversity. We are an inclusive and collaborative organization, and we strive to meet the needs of our diverse members and their patient populations.

Innovation

AADE embraces innovation and strategic thinking. We value and promote creativity and flexibility when approaching projects, meeting challenges and overcoming barriers.

Customer Service

AADE strives to consistently deliver high-quality service and support for our members and other stakeholders.  We place the needs of the diabetes educator at the center of our products, programs and activities.