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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The weather has changed; the cool days warn me that winter is not far off! With the cooler weather comes our annual education day. We had a fantastic line up of speakers and vendors! Elaine Finseth, MDE Director: Allied Health Integration Strategies, Alberta Health Services presented our keynote, “Surviving to Thriving in Turbulent Times”. She provided information on the exciting new initiative; the Therapy Assistant Role Enhancement Project. This project is looking at goals such as, standardizing job descriptions, a process for determining training needs and classification of current non-diploma staff, a bridging program for non-diploma assistants/process for grandfathering, a program for on-going maintenance of knowledge and skills and ensuring that there is support professional and paraprofessional staff in the adoption of the new staff mix.
Another exciting initiative taking place on a national level is the Support Personnel Education Accreditation Program. An extensive review of background materials related to accreditation, support personnel and support personnel education programs was carried out. There is now a Support Personnel Standards Development Working Group being formed and selection of members is underway. Please see more information under our “News” heading.
Congratulations to the Therapy Assistants nominated for an award at the 2009 Alberta Rehabilitation Coordinating Council Awards! Clinical Excellence Award (Urban) - Jocelyn Cabunoc, Terry Joyce, Darla Larsen, Lisa Lashbrook, Shannon Latimer, Emilia Puteri, Victoria Rootes (Award Recipient), Dell Yaghi,
Clinical Excellence Award (Rural) - Donna Hackborn, Carol Harmesynn, Virginia Pona, Catherine Stephens, Candice van der Torre, (Award Recipient)
Sunrise Assistant - Jessica Harrison (Award Recipient), Kristin Paul
Friends of Rehab - Karen Harrison and TaraLynn Kruger.
I can’t exclaim to you how exciting it is to be a therapy assistant in Alberta right now! Check back regularly to find updates on the latest news.
Cheers,
Joelle Withers OTA, President
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