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With the recent increase of individuals contracting measles, Dr. Gregory Cherpes from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has issued a health alert. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “From January 1 to May 3, 2019, 764 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 23 states. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the US since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.” Pennsylvania is among the states confirming new cases of measles.

What is Measles:
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. The symptoms of measles generally appear about 7 to 14 days after a person is infected. The measles rash usually starts first as flat red spots on the face. These spots may increase in number and connect spreading down the neck and body. Small raised bumps may form on the flat red spots.

Measles symptoms typically include:

  • High fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Rash breaks out 3–5 days after symptoms begin

Are Measles Serious? 
Measles can be serious at all ages, but children less than 5 and adults over 20 are more likely to have complications. Complications include:

  • Ear infection that can result in permanent hearing loss.
  • Diarrhea requiring hospitalization.
  • Pneumonia – this is the most common cause of death in children.
  • Swelling of the brain – that may lead to brain damage.
  • Pregnant women may have their babies early and the baby’s weight may be low.
  • Of every 1,000 people who get measles 1–2 of them will die.

How do Measles Spread to Other People?

  • Infected people can spread measles to others from 4 days before through 4 days after the rash appears.
  • It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
  • When someone sneezes or coughs the virus can live for up to 2 hours in the air.
  • If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.
  • Up to 90% of the people close to an infected person who have not been vaccinated against measles will also become infected.

Can Measles be Prevented? 
Receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination can prevent measles. See your health care provider for more information related to the measles vaccination.

For more information, visit:

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a memo is on the keyboard of a computer as a reminder: meeting

Dr. Michael Gamel-McCormick, Disability Policy Director, Special Committee on Aging, for Senator Bob Casey, will be speaking with RCPA members at our Annual Meeting to be held on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The meeting that was previously scheduled to occur on Thursday, May 2 has been cancelled. The conversation will focus on state policies on disabilities and legislative initiatives that will have an impact on services and opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania.

Michael Gamel-McCormick held a similar position in the office of Senator Tom Harkin, as well as being Senator Harkin’s senior education staffer. He began his career as an early childhood education teacher, teaching in inclusive settings. He was a special education technical assistance provider for over 40 counties and cities in Virginia. For 15 years, he was a professor and dean at the University of Delaware as well as director of the university’s Center for Disability Studies. Just prior to joining Senator Casey’s staff, he was Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

Register here for the Annual Meeting. Please contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with questions.

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RCPA will be holding an Open Board/General membership meeting on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. This meeting is also available by webcast if you are unable to attend in person. If you were considering attending, please review the agenda and register here.

We look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please contact Tina Miletic.

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Announcement: Vice President of Ambulatory and Community Behavioral Health Services

RCPA congratulates Noreen Fredrick, DNP, RN, on her new position as Vice President of Ambulatory and Community Behavioral Health Services for the Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (WPIC) of UPMC. Ms. Fredrick is currently serving as Secretary for the RCPA Board of Directors. We wish her much success in her new role at UPMC. Below is a letter from the president of WPIC:

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce that effective July 1, 2018 Noreen Fredrick, DNP, RN has taken on a broader leadership role as the Vice President of Ambulatory and Community Behavioral Health Services. In this capacity, Noreen will oversee the operations and financial performance of all WPIC’s outpatient programs, our expanding  community based behavioral health network and physician services within UPP’s Department of Psychiatry and UPMC Behavioral Health Care. In this capacity she will report to me and Dr. Ken Nash, the Chief of Clinical Services and Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry.

Noreen began her career in behavioral health as a staff nurse at WPIC and worked at the bedside for 6 years before her accepting her first leadership position as an assistant nursing clinical manager.  Over a period of 13 years, she was promoted into various inpatient nursing leadership positions in such areas as Adult/Geriatrics and Schizophrenia before becoming the Program Administrator of WPIC’s Comprehensive Care Services. In July 2001, Noreen transitioned to Mon Yough Community Services and accepted a position as the Director of Clinical Services and eventually served as the Executive Director of Mon Yough for 11 years before becoming the Senior Executive Director for WPIC’s Community  Behavioral Health Network in May 2015.

Noreen will be charged with regionalizing outpatient behavioral care in Western PA and creating synergistic partnerships between our programs and other community based services. Her initial areas of focus include: 1) completing the conversion to EPIC and EPICARE; 2) improving access to and growing our ambulatory services throughout the region; and 3) reducing unnecessary variation across our ambulatory programs in order to: increase efficiency; improve patient and consumer experience; improve productivity and elevate the quality of care we provide.

Her rich history and understanding of Western Psych and its academic excellence; in-depth clinical  knowledge of behavioral health; and years of experience of managing people and running a complicated community based organization have positioned Noreen to hit the ground running and add tremendous value in this new, critically important role. Please join me and Dr. Nash in congratulating Noreen on her new position.

Christopher A. Gessner
President
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic of UPMC
4401 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

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As many of you are aware, on December 1, 2017, a significant increase went into effect for the cost to obtain state police criminal background checks. The fee jumped from $8.00 to $22.00. This jump in cost can have a significant impact on an organization’s operating budget, especially due to the amount of staff turnover in direct care positions.

In addition, Governor Wolf’s draft legislation to amend the Older Adult Protective Services Act includes a new requirement that new employees working with our elderly adults must also obtain an FBI clearance, regardless of length of residency in Pennsylvania. The cost of the FBI check is currently $22.60. Together, these requirements could add an additional $36.60 to the cost of each potential hire.

RCPA is asking our members to participate in a very brief survey (just 2 questions) to help us assess the impact of these changes. Please respond by close of business on Thursday, February 1, 2018. For further information contact Carol Ferenz.

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“Fostering Cultural Sensitivity: Opportunities and Challenges in Pediatric Rehabilitation” was presented by Dr. Maurit Beeri on August 2, 2016. Dr. Beeri is the Director General (CEO) of ALYN Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem, Israel where she also heads the Multidisciplinary Clinic for Infants and Children with Feeding Disorders.  Prior to accepting her current position, Dr. Beeri served as Vice Hospital Director and Head of the Medical Day Care Rehabilitation Department at ALYN.

Dr. Beeri received her medical degree and training as a pediatrician at Hebrew University Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.  She also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a Wexner Israel Fellow.  Her medical background is broad including experiences such as directing a home-hospitalization program for the largest health provider in Israel and consulting at the Familial Dysautonomia Center at Hadassah. Dr. Beeri also helped to establish a hospice ward for children on ventilators at the Hertzog Hospital in Jerusalem.

The promotion of cultural competence in healthcare is important to Dr. Beeri.  Under her leadership, ALYN Jerusalem was the first hospital within Israel to be recognized as a culturally competent organization.  She is involved in various health and social initiatives to promote the healthcare rights of children with special needs including the Early Intervention Coalition, which represents over 60 organizations and associations for children with special needs. On a personal note, Dr. Beeri is married, is the mother of three boys, and is the caretaker of two cats.

At the end of the session, each participant will:

  • Understand the cultural and social settings of ALYN hospital in Jersualem, Israel;
  • Identify the impact of culture and social issues on the provision of rehabilitation services;
  • Become familiar with the ALYN model of cultural competence; and
  • Recognize universal implications for provision of culturally competent healthcare.

View the recorded webinar here. Visit the IPRC website here.

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RCPA hosted a webinar exclusively for members on June 3, Changes to the FLSA’s Overtime Rules, regarding the Department of Labor (DOL) Proposed Rule regarding changes to overtime exemption and salary thresholds. Jeffrey J. Worley, partner at the law office of Gibbel Kraybill & Hess, LLP was the presenter.

Topics of discussion included:

  • How will the changes to the FLSA impact your organization?
  • What is the new salary basis?
  • Should you convert your salaried employees to hourly employees?
  • How will the annual salary increase be calculated?
  • What issues surround the implementation of changes and managing staff?
Links to the recorded version of this webinar and the PowerPoint are below, with members only access:

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