| Oregon Health Licensing Agency's Licensing Line |
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March 25, 2008
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| Vision, Change and Reality: OHLA Event to Showcase Agency Goals, Achievements |
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The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) will hold a "state of the agency" event for all 57 members of the nine volunteer citizen boards and councils OHLA oversees, as well as key stakeholders, on Friday, April 18.
Change Is the Solution: Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Reality will bring a diverse group of practitioners, physicians and public members to hear the latest on OHLA's recent reorganization and the agency's efforts to build on its regulatory achievements.
In addition to reviewing how OHLA's recent reorganization has positioned the agency to better respond to regulatory changes in multiple health and related professions, Change Is the Solution will also look at the agency's most recent initiatives to make regulation more responsive and efficient while continuing to focus on the agency's core public protection mission.
Key topics will include:
- Public Disclosure: Outreach and Online
- Compliance through Education
- Agency Proposed Budget and Fee Structure
- Proposed Legislation for 2009
- Agency Accomplishments & Goals
Change Is the Solution will be held from 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Red Lion Hotel on Market in Salem.
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| OHLA Offers Innovative Alternative to Issuing Civil Fines: Training Workshops |
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OHLA Inspector Justin Chen at training workshop
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The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) recently became one of the first state regulatory agencies in the nation to offer health, safety and infection control training in lieu of paying a civil fine.
“Our goal is to protect the public,” says OHLA Regulatory Operations Manager Tim Molloy. “We think that educating licensees is the most effective way to accomplish that goal.”
More than 30 licensees, the majority of whom practice in one or more fields of practice of cosmetology, participated in the first two training sessions at OHLA in Salem on February 25. All of their current violations were expunged and their civil fines waived as a result.
“We were never just about issuing citations and collecting fines,” Molloy says. “We’ve always attempted to educate licensees during facility inspections. The training session takes our education efforts to a new level.”
The training sessions focus on the inspection process, state statutes and administrative rules, and how licensees can most effectively stay in compliance.
Civil Penalties Not Ultimate Goal
Licensees leave the training session with information to assist them in practicing more safely and effectively, which ultimately benefits the health and safety of consumers.
OHLA also benefits because, as Molloy explains, offering the training session actually reduces the amount of time his staff spends on citations.
“People think that collecting civil penalties is a cash cow, but it’s not,” Molloy says. “The disciplinary process can be very time consuming and expensive. Our ultimate goal isn’t to collect fines, it’s to keep practitioners in compliance and working while protecting the public.”
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| OHLA Looks to Enhance Public Protection, Benefits of Central Agency Model |
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OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson
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OHLA plans to propose legislation in 2009 that would further enhance the agency's public protection efforts while addressing recent developments in OHLA-regulated professions.
These legislative proposals, or "concepts," have been identified as key priorities by OHLA in consultation with its respective volunteer citizen boards and stakeholders. The proposals look to align with Governor Ted Kulongoski's statewide goals to protect consumers and partner with business to streamline regulation. These concepts aim to:
- Strengthen the agency's ability to prevent harm to minors from unlicensed and prohibited body piercing and tattooing activities.
- Reduce confusion among consumers and further protect mothers and babies by reviewing the current voluntary licensure of midwives, with mandatory licensure as a possible option.
- Further standardize and improve education for hearing aid specialists and estheticians in response to continuing advances in technology.
OHLA will also propose legislation to further maximize the benefits of its unique central regulatory agency model to establish:
- A new licensing fee allocation model based both on standard operating costs among all OHLA-regulated professions and specific "fee for service" costs associated with each profession.
- Standardized terms for OHLA volunteer board and council members of two consecutive four-year terms to address the smaller pool of applicants for boards and councils representing professions with fewer practitioners.
- Standardized terminology for authorizations to practice (license, registration, certification, etc.)
"What can we do to better protect consumers while serving our customers better?" asks OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson. "That is the goal behind all of these initiatives."
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| OHLA Files Initital Administrative Rules for Sex Offender Therapists |
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SOTB members discuss proposed administrative rules
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OHLA, in consultation with the newly established Sex Offender Treatment Board (SOTB), filed temporary operating administrative rules for sex offender therapists on Friday, March 14.
The rules are effective for 180 days and subject to public review before permanent rules become effective in September of this year.
Filing of temporary rules allows OHLA/SOTB to begin certification of sex offender therapists by specifying fees and entry-to-practice qualifications related to specialized training for this newly regulated profession in the mental health field.
OHLA also filed proposed rules to establish statewide standards, including:
- Supervisory requirements
- Continuing education and audits
- Code of professional conduct, including standards of practice, professional conduct and client relationships, communications with other professionals, mandatory reporting, client confidentiality/ disclosure, informed consent and client records
- Discipline and compliance
"I applaud the dilgence and commitment of SOTB members and OHLA staff in drafting professional standards so quickly and thoroughly," says OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson. "Their contribution highlights the invaluable role each of the 57 diverse members of our boards and councils play in providing their expertise and insight into the particulars of each profession."
OHLA has posted the temporary / proposed rules on its Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA/SOTB and is distributing notice of the rules to key stakeholder groups in mental health, corrections, law enforcement and victims' advocacy.
Interested parties and the public are allowed opportunity to comment on the temporary and proposed rules before final adoption. OHLA/SOTB will hold a public hearing on Friday, April 25, 9 am at OHLA in Salem to accept public comment on the rules.
Written comments can also be submitted to ohla.info@state.or.us or via postal mail. Interested parties may also e-mail or call the agency at 503-378-8667 to be placed on a notification mailing list.
Learn how OHLA and the SOTB collaborated to guide development of this new regulatory program. Click here and look under Current Topics.
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Comments, suggestions and questions about Licensing Line and the issues we cover are appreciated. Contact OHLA Communications Coordinator Kraig Bohot at kraig.bohot@state.or.us or call 503-373-1939.
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