2009 NYSUT PROFESSIONAL ISSUES FORUM ON HEALTH CARE
Hosted by the NYSUT Health Care Professionals Council
The Crowne Plaza Albany City Center Hotel. Albany, New York.

Program subject to change

Saturday, May 2, 2009

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.

REGISTRATION

8:00 A.M. – 8:45 A.M.

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M

EXHIBITS

9:00 A.M.– 10:15 A.M.

• WELCOME AND OPENING SESSION
  Anne Goldman, R.N., Special Representative of the Federation of Nurses/UFT and Chair, NYSUT Health Care Professionals Council
• GREETINGS
  Kathleen M. Donahue, NYSUT Vice President
• OPENING SESSION: New Leadership and New Healthcare Legislation
  Mary Lehman MacDonald, Director, AFT Healthcare

10:15 A.M.– 10:30 A.M.

REFRESHMENT BREAK

10:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

SESSION A – CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

A1. The Profession: Recruitment, Retention and Rights of Foreign Nurses
This session explores basic workers' rights for foreign health care professionals who are recruited to work in U.S. health care facilities. Discussion will include job security; freedom from discrimination; equal pay for work of equal value; access to grievance procedures; safe and sanitary work and living environments; effective and culturally appropriate orientation; mentoring and supervision; freedom of association and collective bargaining; civil rights and equal protection under the law; and professional development and education.

A2. The Union: School Nurse Contract Exchange
This session examines some of the unique issues which health care members face and explores how they can be addressed at the bargaining table. There will be an opportunity to review contract language and discuss strategies for bargaining. Participants should bring 5 copies of their current contract.

A3. The Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorders – Identifying and Assessing Children with Developmental Disorders - Part 1
This workshop explores autistic spectrum disorders: autism, pervasive developmental disorder, Asperger's syndrome and other developmental disorders that can co-exist or be confused with ASD. Using the correct diagnostic tools (applied behavioral analysis) provides the basis for building appropriate and effective programming strategies for the child's success in school and in the community. Video vignettes will be utilized to illustrate "red flags" seen in children prior to diagnosis, and to illustrate a framework for effective programming of children with ASD.

A4. The Brain: Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. This workshop provides an overview of concussion and examines the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the severity of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, sensation, language, or emotions.

A5. The Disease: Childhood Cancer Comes to School
Children with cancer often experience disruptions in their education due to repeated hospitalizations, side effects from chemotherapy, or generally not feeling well enough to fully participate in daily school life. As their health improves and treatment allows, returning to school can be either a relief or a challenge for children with cancer. This session addresses the complex issues of educating children with cancer successfully through planning and good communication.

A6. The Specialty: ENT Issues – The Health Care Professional's Role in the Treatment of Hearing Disorders, Dysphasia and other ENT Disorders
This workshop will reflect on the role of the health care professional in specialist ear, nose & throat hospital, primary care settings, and in schools. Content includes information and health education needs of ear, nose and throat patients, their families and health care personnel. Deafness, hearing impairment and its implications, and communication with the hearing impaired and voiceless will be discussed.

A7. The Mental Health Issue: Childhood Sexual Abuse
Mental health services can certainly help in dealing with the impact of child sexual abuse. This workshop examines the strengths of the mental health approach in treatment and its recognition that affordable, culturally relevant services can be an important part of responding to and recovering from this trauma. Information and mental health resources for health care providers will be provided. Most importantly, the session will conclude with a discussion of prevention.

12:30 P.M.– 1:30 P.M.

• LUNCHEON
  Recognition of NYSUT Health Care Professional of the Year
• LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
  Alan B. Lubin, NYSUT Executive Vice President

1:45 P.M. – 3:15 P.M.

SESSION B – CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

B1. The Profession: The Law for Licensed Professionals
With the increasing complexities of patients' medical needs and changes in the health, education and privacy laws that govern patient treatment, this workshop examines: malpractice, legal claims against health care providers, actions if served with legal papers, hiring an attorney, and possible court proceedings. Questions about licensure, practice and liability will be welcomed. The presenter is a registered nurse and practicing attorney, presenting an overview of the NYS law that governs health care professionals on professional licenses and liability.

B2. The Union: The Role of Unions in Achieving National Health Care
With the new federal administration, the hope and promise for much needed changes in health care, including Medicare, seem imminent. This workshop examines approaches to national health care and provides the knowledge needed to facilitate communication with members on this critical issue.

B3. The Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorders – Part 2
The second part of this workshop will explore the challenges that health care professionals face in working with diagnosed students in the school setting. Family modalities and sibling issues will also be discussed.

B4. The Brain: Learning Disabilities: Evaluation and Intervention
What is the health care professional's role in making recommendations on appropriate learning environments for students with learning disabilities? This session presents the need for comprehensive evaluations in the identification of students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Response to intervention (RTI) models, Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA; 2004), the role of standardized testing, aptitude-achievement discrepancy formulas and comprehensive evaluation will be discussed.

B5. The Disease: Caring for Diabetic Children in the Classroom
About 151,000 of the 17 million people with diabetes in the United States are children. That means one in 400 school-age children has diabetes. Children with diabetes often must take daily insulin injections and their blood glucose levels must be regularly monitored -sometimes several times a day - in order to avoid life-threatening complications. This workshop focuses on the new trends and technologies for treating diabetes in children.

B6. The Specialty: The Body-Mouth Connection: Periodontal Disease
Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss in children and adults. This workshop presents recent findings and research that suggests this may contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death; increase the risk of stroke; increase a woman's risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby; pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis.

B7. The Mental Health Issue: Bipolar Disorder in Children
Children and teenagers with Bipolar Disorder have manic and/or depressive symptoms. Some may have mostly depression and others a combination of symptoms. This session discusses the development, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of children who are dealing with this mental health disease and the role of the health care provider in making appropriate referrals.

3:15 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

REFRESHMENT BREAK

3:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

• KEYNOTE ADDRESS: "At Least I've Still Got My Health"
  Speaker: Brett Leake, The HUMOR Project, Inc.
  Brett Leake and his clean, inspiring comedy have been featured everywhere from the American Comedy Awards to the Kennedy Center. Brett made television history when he became the first differently abled comedian to appear on The Tonight Show (five times). When Brett set out to become a comedian, a reporter wanted to know how long a man with muscular dystrophy could stand the rigors of a traveling stand-up comic. Brett supposed he had about 7 years. That was 25 years ago! Brett attributes his laughing longevity to the healing power of humor. Listen to Brett and learn about the extraordinary rewards of letting go...and letting go with laughter!