Mission Statement: The Rehabilitation Nurses Society is a membership organization that provides continuing education and networking for medical care coordination. The professional goal of its members is to advocate for quality patient care while utilizing community resources in a cost effective manner. September 2010 September 2010 Come join friends and colleagues for a time of lunch and learning! September’s Educational Topic Two Views on Home and Community Neurorehab: Caregiver and Provider Perspectives presented by Sandra Milton, MA, CCC-SLP, CCM and Wendy A Tucker, Esq. Join us in welcoming Sandra & Wendy as they present September’s program, which is an interesting overview of the key features of the Home and Community Reintegration Program model. This includes providing information to nurse case managers with differentiating features other options for post-acute neuro-rehabilitation services. Sandra and Wendy will also discuss guiding principles in formation/refining a Home & Community Program. We’ll find out about community resources helpful in guiding patients to social reconnection, increased independence & skill integration. Last, but certainly not least, we’ll find out about a caregiver’s personal perspective during & subsequent to the transition from structured facility-based rehabilitation to a home & community neuro-rehab program. LOCATION: Quiet CannonDate: September 23, 2010 Cost: members - $ Via San ClementeRegistration: 11:30 – 12:00 pm non-member - $35.00 Montebello, CALunch: 12:00 – 1:00 pmCEU’s: approved for 2 hours Presentation:1:00 pm – 3:00 pm BRN provider # CCM/CDMS - 2 CEU’s If you register, you are responsible for paying for the meal, even if you don’t attend. Please RSVP by , phone or mail by September 17, Call Kellie Kerr or Maryanne Sawoski. Office: (818) cell (818) September 23, 2010 RNS Meeting Detach and mail to…. ( Please include your check) Maryanne Sawoski, c/o RNS Continuity Care Home Nurses Riverside Drive, Suite #108 North Hollywood, CA Attention: Kellie Kerr Number of members _____ at $25.00 Number of non-members: _____ at $35.00 Name: ___________________________________ Address: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ City: ___________________________________ State: _________ ZIP: ____________________

President’s Message By Renae Paulson, RN September 1, 2010 Dear RNS Members and Friends, As I sit down to write this month’s message I find myself struggling with ‘writers block’. I am feeling overwhelmed with random thoughts but I am unable to compose them succinctly enough to talk about them so that the message would have a purpose. When I feel this discombobulated I am unable to feel connected so this lead me to consider my passions and I begun to recall the why I became so involved with RNS in the first place. It was in 1985 I believe, that an RN introduced me to this group of nurses. I was new in the field of Rehab Nursing so I had no real knowledge of the rehab principles and I was in awe of the independent nurses that were able to speak with anyone, particularly with patients, doctors, treatment centers, social workers, and the like. They were smart, assertive, and compassionate. The nurses mentored, and encouraged, me every time I attended a meeting. The monthly meeting provided the support and education that was needed to progress me into the field of Workers Compensation. I was fast learning that in this field I had several bosses and each one had a different goal to accomplish. I began to describe my role as being the ‘right’ hand and the digits represented each of my bosses. The thumb is the claims case manager, the index finger the doctor, the middle finger is the patient (hopefully you will see that the middle finger is the longest, most prominent digit as we are patient advocates), the ring finger is the customer, and the pinky is the lawyer. I had to learn to become diplomatic and even political at times. Sure we all want full recovery and return to work, but each one would want that at different times and for different reasons and it was the nurse that had the primary role of coordinating, and motivating, each party. I would say that this required skills beyond training and compensation. But those of us in the field of Rehabilitation “get” the passion that keeps us in the game. I hope that you will continue to carry on the tradition of RNS and that you will find opportunities to encourage others to join us for our monthly meetings. It is a goal worth perseverance. I wish to thank Brain Roberts, Certified Athletic Trainer and Kelli McSwan, PhD for their talk about the medical management and neuropsychological screening of concussed patients. They discussed the benefits of the comprehensive concussion program in getting athletes to play again and workers that return to work again after concussions. They provided the evidence that “rest” after injury to allow for recovery was paramount. A hearty ‘Thank You’ to our business partners that continue to provide gifts to raffle at each meeting. And they are: Francine Aron from Casa Colina for the fun centerpieces, Patricia Klein & Laura Weis from Northridge Hospital, Lori Brummels & Jamie Siner from CNS, and Maryanne Sawoski and Sharon Cason from Continuity Care Home Nurses. Stay well and I hope to see you at the RNS meeting on September 23, Renae Paulson, RN RNS President:

Renae Paulson President (818) , ex Rita Pathmanaban Vice President (714) Karen York Corresponding Secretary/ (newsletter and web-site) (818) , ext Maryanne Sawoski Treasurer (818) Cell (818) Nancy Person Recording Secretary (818) , ext Diana Campos Member at Large (membership) (818) Board of Directors CHECK US OUT …WE’RE ON THE WEB! SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, October 7, :30 am to 3 pm Neuro Rehabilitation Management: Innovations in Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Presented by Northridge Hospital Medical Center Center for Rehabilitation Medicine 5 th Floor IFL Penthouse (includes breakfast buffet & garden lunch) Speakers Neurosurgical Interventions in Brain Injury & Impairment Neurosurgeon Dr. T. Todd Gravori Latest in Neuro-Imaging Related to Clinic Aspects of Brain Injury Diagnosis & Management. Radiologist Dr. Bonnie Freitas Advances in Seizure Management & Current Research Neurologist Dr. Ronald Ziman Progress & Controversies in Post Acute Brain Injury Management. Open Forum Featuring: Physiatrists Dr. Thomas Hedge, Dr. Joel Rose, Dr. Alex Lin, and Dr. Kevin Pidgeon, Teresa Dwight, MS, CCC-SLP This program provides 4 CE hours for: California BRN Provider #12584 Board of Behaviroal Sciences #PCE3927 CCM #CM350 CME Category 1 credits For more information or to register, contact Patricia Klein at (818) or

c/o Karen York 5429 Tyler Ave. Temple City, CA Do you want your newsletter by or have an address change? If so, send an to Karen York ……. Let us know if you know anybody who would be interested in becoming part of a dynamic professional organization committed to the education and networking needs of its members. Karen will a copy of the newsletter to them. RNS Mark your calendar to attend the September 23 meeting ….. and don’t forget to RSVP by September 17! To your reservation, send an to: To RSVP by phone, call Kellie Kerr or Maryanne Sawoski (818) You can mail your registration to: Maryanne Sawoski, c/o RNS Continuity Care Home Nurses Riverside Drive, Suite #108 North Hollywood, CA We’re on the Web! see us at Liberty Mutual has an opening for a telephonic Medical and Disability Case Manager. (Position is located in the Orange office, but can also work remotely in the Glendale office) Contact Karen York or Nancy Person for additional information: