Issue E

2^nd Quarter Highlights

• Taping for the Virtual Central Auditory processing disorders (CAPD) conference has been completed and includes speakers from four different countries.
• Materials were disseminated at the annual American Telemedicine Association meeting and to members in North Carolina advocating for support of telepractice.
• Monitored efforts by states to promote telepractice including legislation adopted in Illinois to appoint a joint task force on rural health and a New York bill that would establish a task force to make recommendations on the development of a state telehealth system. The NY bill is currently under consideration in the Senate Health committee.
• Disseminated ASHA materials related to telehealth/telepractice at the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) meeting in Nashville.
• The House passed the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act which, among other things, authorizes and provides appropriations for up to seven state or consortia grants for pilot projects to improve patient outcomes by coordinating health care through telehealth networks. Stroke rehabilitation is one of the core activities supported by the grants.
• Ongoing updates to online curriculum resources for use in academic programs to foster acquisition of knowledge and skills in the area of telehealth/telepractice can be accessed on the ASHA Web site at: Latest Developments in Telepractice and Curriculum Resources
• A list of international events related to speech-language pathology and audiology can be accessed online.

There are 21 strategies in the work plan for Issue E. Following is the status for the 1^st and 2^nd quarters.