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Physical Disabilities & Aging

RCPA will be hosting our 2023 Capitol Day on Monday, April 24. During the day, RCPA will have a press conference and rally on the steps of the Capitol outside the Main Rotunda between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm. We need your attendance, as well as that of staff and individuals/families you serve who are impacted by funding restraints, in order to show legislators, the administration, and any press in attendance that these issues — and these individuals — matter. We are also requesting that members schedule appointments with their Senate and House legislators to discuss the state budget, legislation, and regulations. Register for Capitol Day press conference/rally here.

In order to assist in your preparations for the day, you can view the updated RCPA Legislative and Administrative Priorities. Members can also visit the Pennsylvania Capitol website to find parking information and maps. If you have questions regarding our 2023 Capitol Day, please contact Jack Phillips.

We look forward to seeing you on April 24!

A proposed regulation related to Adult Protective Services is currently posted on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission’s (IRRC) website. This proposed regulation “identifies mandatory reporters and prescribes penalties for their failure to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment; requires consistent and timely investigations of allegations; and when necessary, provides for protective services to mitigate risk to individuals.”

The public comment period has started and will end on May 22, 2023. Please take the opportunity to review the proposed regulation and submit any comments that you may have following the processes outlined within the timeframe allotted. Consider sharing your thoughts with Carol Ferenz or your policy division director by May 19, 2023, for inclusion in RCPA’s comments.

Understanding the Basics of Neuroimaging and Practical Applications for Pediatric Rehabilitation Providers
Thursday, June 8, 2023
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST;
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST

Kristen R. Hoskinson, PhD

Speaker/Panelist Bio:
Dr. Hoskinson is a licensed pediatric neuropsychologist and principal investigator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Columbus, Ohio. Now fully immersed in the research world, her lab focuses on using neuroimaging methods to detangle the neurocognitive, social, and behavioral consequences of pediatric medical conditions, including traumatic brain injury, childhood cancer, critical congenital heart disease, and long-COVID. As Co-Director of the Neuroimaging and Behavior Research Group at NCH, she’s devoted to advocating for the utility of neuroscientific methods to understand long-term outcomes in pediatrics, including working closely with neuropsychology and physician colleagues in applying and interpreting these tools.

In this presentation, Dr. Hoskinson provides an introduction to multiple neuroimaging methods commonly encountered by the pediatric neuropsychologist during clinical practice. This includes basics on development, acquisition, interpretation, and how each approach can prove a useful tool in optimizing care for pediatric patients.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Identify two neuroimaging methods useful for identifying abnormalities in brain structure;
  • List one strength and one concern with use of CT versus MRI in childhood brain injury; and
  • Describe how functional MRI methods can be informative in pediatric rehabilitation.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all members of the rehabilitation team, including medical staff, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, licensed psychologists, mental health professionals, and other interested professionals.

Level: Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Registration: Registration is complimentary for members of IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today. Multiple registrations per organization are permitted.

REGISTER

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). This plan represents a multi-year strategic plan developed in collaboration with a diverse public partnership of stakeholders across the Commonwealth. It is a data-driven, comprehensive process and a primary, expert resource for establishing and maintaining public health programs and policies.

The SHIP identifies Pennsylvania health priorities and includes goals, objectives, and strategies for improving those priorities. For each priority area, a work group with goal and strategy teams meets to implement the strategies and reassess, as necessary, to improve the health of Pennsylvanians.

RCPA has participated in the plan development process, and if members have feedback that may impact implementation of the plan, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.