WALA News for March 2008

  1. Conference Discount Extended to March 14
  2. Managed Care Webinars
  3. WALA Administrators and Managers Course to be offered again
  4. "Not in My Backyard" Bill hearing
  5. Norovirus memo
  6. List of Communicable Diseases Updated
  7. Chicken Recall
  8. WALA Staff photo

1. Conference Discount Extended to March 14

The WALA Conference is April 1, 2 and 3 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. We are having unprecedented registration, but we have heard from many that with the long long winter, the Feb 29 early registration discount date got away from you. So, we are pleased to extend the discount until March 14 - but only for on-line registration at The WALA Store. Go to www.ewala.org for this discount until March 14 to see all that you would be missing. Remember that the 6 for the price of 5 discount continues to be available for all WALA members.

2. Managed Care Webinars

WALA's first webinars, on-line education modules, are about to be launched on the Internet. All webinars can be accessed live or you can purchase the CDs so you can play them anytime in your own facility. All four Managed Care webinars are presented by Maggie McCullough, one of the most knowledgeable consultants in Wisconsin about the expansion of Family Care.

Managed Care (MC) 101 is Wednesday March 12; MC 201 is Tuesday March 18, MC 301 is Thursday March 20 and MC 401 is Wednesday March 26. All begin at 10:00 am. The complete course outline with registration is at The WALA Store www.ewala.org and join us live or order the CDs - or do both.

3. WALA Administrators and Managers Course to be offered again

For the 50+ of you who were not able to attend our Administrator and Managers course in February because is was sold out at 55 attendees, we have good news. Given the response to this class, we are planning to present this well received 2-day course again and we will have more details later. But you can help us and let us know that if you are interested in attending, let us know where you would like us to present it this fall. Tell us which location of the following is of most interest to you: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Wausau area, Appleton area, Madison, La Crosse area or tell us your 'druthers. We think we can hold the cost at $199 and that includes a huge notebook and CD chocked full of material, resources and information to help meet your needs regardless of experience. Let us know your vote no later than March 20, please.

4. "Not in My Backyard" Bill hearing

SB 268 had a hearing on March 5. WALA and all provider associations testified strongly against it. It is - in our words - the "Not In My Backyard bill" which would limit the placement of assisted living and other types of facilities by making it (our words again) almost impossible for a DD or even ALZ facility to open in certain communities. There is a lawsuit pending against Mequon and other communities that have put similar legislation in place in their cities. [Info on Senate Bill 268]

5. Norovirus memo

There has been a dramatic increase in cases of Norovirus. The WI Division of Public Heath issued a memo available via WALA and your nurse or nurse consultant will find these tips useful. It is clinical and needs to be in the hands of a clinician who can coordinate a plan. WALA has a number of memos and other information handouts available. And thank you to Sara Vadakin of ALC. As she said, "It is quickly contained and eradicated if staff employ swift and basic infection control measures." For an additional useful tool from Sara to help combat Norovirus also contact available at WALA.

6. List of Communicable Diseases Updated

Effective March 1, 2008, Wisconsin's list of Reportable Communicable Diseases changed. Revisions to Appendix A of Administrative Rule HFS 145 were adopted by the Department of Health and Family Services and published in the Wisconsin Administrative register on January 31, 2008. For a complete list and the implications of these changes, contact WALA.

7. Chicken Recall

The USDA has announced a recall of frozen chicken entrees from a Michigan Firm. Although the product is not believed to have been distributed in WI, it has been distributed to several nearby Midwestern states and might eventually find its way to Wisconsin. This is merely a "heads up" in case you receive any reports of Listeria cases, then please inquire about the recalled chicken product memo from the WI Division of Public Health via the WALA office

8. WALA Staff photo

And to all of you expressed surprise at the "photo" of the WALA staff in the March WALA Watch newsletter, come to the Spring Conference and see if we still look like we did in the "photo." Lots of other surprises at the conference too!

 

 

 


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