This is your April 2010 Chapter Newsletter. See you at the April 22nd Chapter Meeting.

Speaker Craig Johns will present "Local Medical Team Supports Needy Haitians" Time 7:00 pm. Come early and hear all the news about the Chapter at the General Meeting which starts at 6:15 pm. Location AMN Healthcare 12400 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130. Visit our Calendar page for more information.

Hospitality provided by Sharp Healthcare.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Review the minutes of the March General Meeting.

Legislative News April 2010

It was a wonderful Congress with some changes, like the dues increase as well as the future voting by ALL AORN members versus just the official delegates. If you attend Congress in the future, you can request delegate status and comply with all of the requirements.

The fourth legislative priority on health care reform includes new language. AORN will actively participate in the state discussions on health care reform. The intent is to promote standardized data collection at the point of service in order to make comparative data effectiveness. According to AORN’s public policy consultant, Craig Jefferies, Esq., the new emphasis will be discussions about how AORN will collaborate with other organizations to advance both federal and state political health care changes but will NOT endorse specific public candidates.

The signed health care reform package will also increase funding for community health centers by $10 billion over 5 years as well as another $2.5 billion in funding from the package voted on positively by both areas of Congress—Senate and House. At least 5 states are supporting lawsuits AGAINST health reform.

All members may comment on the new AORN Recommended Practices: Surgical Attire and Prevention of Retained Surgical Items. Both of these items are open for public comment until April 11, 2010 for the first one and April 18, 2010 for the second one. You can access these draft RPS in the drop-down AORN menus and select the one or both to review.

I will report on these issues next month.

Submitted by Virginia L. Ogren RN, BSN, CNOR

Treasurer Report
March 2010