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Message from the President
It is hard to believe that 2016 has almost reached the halfway mark! Much has been accomplished in only 5 months. At long last, after almost a year of work, the MSHA Operational Manual is completed. This is a manual accessible to members only which is a compilation of all the documents, duties, and standard operating policies and procedures of MSHA. We are thrilled to have this completed and posted to the MSHA website. This will be updated annually and serve as the guide for incoming executive board officers in the governance of MSHA.
A MSHA strategic plan was created in early spring. The plan objectives are now underway. You will see new and exciting changes as we broaden our membership recruiting methods and establish networking partnerships that will help strengthen our organization, profession, and support for our clients. We have in our plan the goal of working towards adding more webinar offerings, so be looking for e-blasts letting you know when these will be!
MSHA is continually moving forward. An exciting change, about which we have been keeping the membership informed, is the location of our 2017 conference venue in Natchez, MS! Please make plans to attend this conference on March 29-31, 2017. Watch for all updates and information regarding conference! You will not want to miss this one!
Rebecca Lowe
2016 MSHA President
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I just want to remind all of you that MSHA will be holding the 2017 conference in Natchez, MS March 29th--March 31st 2017. Our conference chairs, Amy Rosonet and Kim Ward are already planning this great event.
We want to make conference a time to earn CEU’s and to network with colleagues and friends. The conference will be held during the Spring Pilgrimage, and our contact ladies, Angela Weathersby and Lindsey Smith, guarantee you will have a blast! They are working closely with the conference committee to plan exciting, fun events that will make your visit to Natchez an EXPERIENCE you will never forget!
Claudette Edwards
President-Elect
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In May, 2016, following several months of development, the MSHA Operational Manual was posted to the MSHA website. It can be accessed as a pdf via the member login. Hopefully, this manual will provide easy access to MSHA’s most frequently referenced information. In an effort to emphasize the importance of student members of our state association and provide special appreciation for their contributions, MSHA would like to applaud Anne Reagan Cox of Ole Miss for her outstanding design of the MSHA Operational Manual and her numerous volunteer hours in the process.
Also, in May, additional submissions of early MSHA historical documents were entered into the MSHA Record collection housed in the MS Archives and History Museum. In September, 2015, the first entries to the collection were provided by Dr. Ojus Malphurs, who holds dual certification in audiology and speech-language pathology, and was the first licensed in MS. MSHA now has a permanent place in MS history.
In the coming months, the membership chair, Heather Card, will share an exciting responsibility with me in the initiation and completion of specific membership goals designated on MSHA’s recently developed strategic plan.
Camille Williams
2016 MSHA Past President
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Again, the 2016 MSHA annual continuing educational conference was a success! Below are just a few more of the pictures from this year's conference. Please visit our website for the 2016 Conference photo section at http://www.mshausa.org/news/photo-gallery/
Kimberly Ward, Au.D, CCC-A, FAAA - 2016 MSHA Conference Chair
Amy Rosonet, M.S., CCC-SLP - 2016 MSHA Conference Co-Chair
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The purpose of the healthcare position on the MSHA Executive Board is to stay on top of current topics in healthcare which are pertinent to speech pathology and audiology. In speaking to MSHA constituents, several topics have been generated. These topics have been discussed below.
Telepractice
This service delivery method is defined by ASHA as “application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of speech language pathology and audiology professional services by linking clinician to client/patient/student or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and assessment.” Thus, both consultations between professionals and delivery of services to clients/patients/students are included in the definition.
The ramifications are widespread. Schools could utilize the method as well as hospitals and/or private practices.
Presently, rules and regulations are under development. Payer sources are also being contacted.
Universal Credentialing
Presently clinicians working in healthcare must get credentialed by a variety of payer sources. The time for credentialing is often lengthy. The required information is often repetitive. Delivery of services can be halted until the credentials can be procured by the individual. Often, there is no back pay for services done during the credentialing period.
ASHA is working on acceptance of a central credentialing source, streamlining the process of credentialing for healthcare practitioners. In Mississippi, the STAR representative is on top of developments in this important issue.
Universal Licensure
Currently, practitioners in the healthcare settings must obtain a Mississippi Department of Health license if order to practice. Entities such as Medicaid and Medicare cannot be billed without this license. In order to practice in the school setting, a Mississippi Department of Education license is needed.
Many states require a state board of health license in order to practice in the educational setting. Thus, all practicing professionals are licensed the same way, regardless of setting.
These are just a few of the topics in healthcare. Please send your opinions and or concerns to me.
Jeffalyn Trammell
VP: Healthcare
MSHA Co-STAR
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I hope you have come through yet another IEP season with a smile on your face and ready for a well deserved summer break!
The schools committee would like to highlight our upcoming Employee Satisfaction Survey coming in June 2016. As school-based professionals, we have a passion to help better Mississippi’s children with communication delays and disorders, however, we all know this comes with challenges. This survey will cover a wide range of topics including paperwork, supervision of 216 license holders, and other ‘hot topics’. These results help us share thoughts, opinions, positives and concerns with MDE and represent you as a MSHA member. We need every school based SLP to partake in this survey and help guide us in conversations with MDE. Results of this survey will also be used by the schools committee to prioritize our agenda for the remainder of the year.
Please remember, we welcome any MSHA member with a passion and excitement for the school setting to join our committee. Please contact me if you are interested: vp.schools@mshausa.org.
Melissa Ladner, M.S., CCC-SLP
VP: School Issues
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Public Relations & Marketing
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I found a great article in the ASHA Leader's June 2016 issue regarding wordless books.
No Words Needed
Pat Mervine knows the amazing feeling of witnessing a child finally-with intense concentration and focus-getting lost in the imaginary world of a book. But fueling the imagination isn't limited to books with text, the SLP writes on her Speaking of Speech Blog.
"indeed, wordless picture books may tap into more imagination, more language, more critical thinking, and more projecting of one's self into the story," she says.
Her post includes a long list of questions that can be discussed when reading a picture book with a child as well as goals addressed by letting the child lead a "reading" of the story. these goals include describing, labeling, grammar, predicting, articulation, and fluency-and, after the story's finished, recall, retelling and sequencing.
Mervine also points out the benefits of wordless picture books for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): "Children can use their AAC system at the single-word, phrase or full-sentence levels to tell the story, answer questions, and ask questions of their own."
www.speakingofspeech.com
Edie Jones
VP: PR & Marketing
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A great resource for adult and pediatric clients is a web series on YouTube called Ask the Audiologist. There are a variety of topics relating to concerns and questions that maybe of interest to your clients. I have included one of the YouTube videos below entitled Why it's important to see your audiologist before starting a new job.
If you are interested in participating, please e-mail me at vp.audiology@mshausa.org.
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