Monday, November 2, 2009

Health Symposium RECAP

THIRD ANNUAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

Hospital administrators, nurses, doctors, attorneys, social workers, nursing instructors, students, and others gathered at the Region 17 Education Service Center on October 16 to participate in a one-day seminar. The Office of Dispute Resolution of Lubbock County hosted the Third Annual Health Symposium, “Clashing Paradigms: A New America – Health Care Reform and Where We Stand,” with a prestigious line-up of speakers from national, state, and local levels.

The goal of the 2009 Health Symposium was to bring information and clarity about health reform to the health and legal communities of West Texas. The Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) focuses on the future through mediations, and because the ODR recognizes that information is vital to understanding the possibilities the future may hold, the Symposium took on an important role.

“Where there is change, and where there is misinformation, there are disputes,” said event coordinator Jessica Kelly of the Office of Dispute Resolution. “In order to help resolve the disputes that will inevitably arise, we felt it was necessary to educate our community with the facts,” she said. She added that the best way to do this was to bring informed speakers from national, state, and local sectors to shed light and bring clarity about reform.

After a welcome from locals Judge Ruben Reyes, Commissioner Patti Jones, Lubbock County Bar President Carolyn Moore, and Dispute Resolution Advisory Board Chair Robert Wilson, the program, moderated by David O’Dell, MD, JD, MBA, MHSM, began.

Corrine Parver, professor and Executive Director for the Health Law and Policy Program on Law and Government at American University Washington College of Law opened with national policy information and current legislative health reform updates.

She was followed by Carla Penny, Chair of the Economic Security Committee of the AARP National Policy Council, who clarified AARP’s
stance on reform and information about what policies AARP would and would not support.

Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman, upon return from Washington DC, opened the state section of the program with information about what transpired in the US House and Senate earlier in the week, emphasizing the role that citizens, especially those in rural communities, play in Texas. He was later interviewed by a local TV station regarding recent policy discussions at the White House.

Stan Strickland of Texas Department of Insurance, Ernie Schmid of Texas Hospital Association, Cathy Harris and Patty Freier of Texas Nurses Association, and Cathy Harris of the Texas School Nurse Organization then brought information about each of their state organizations and associations.

After a laughable lunch presentation from comedian Steve “Nice Guy” Mingolla, discussion resumed with a unique panel hosting representatives from four major Lubbock hospitals and Representative Garnet Coleman. The panel included Greg Bruce, Vice President of UMC Health System, Dr. Yisrael Safeek of Covenant Health System, John W. McGreevy, CEO of Lubbock Heart Hospital, and Dr. Obie Stalcup of Grace Health System.








Attendees posed “thought provoking” questions about insurance, patient accountability, and other concerns. The panel, moderated by Dr. David O’Dell, led to an exciting discussion.

Afternoon presenters Archie Alexander, M.D., J.D., LL.M. and Hans Seitz of Press Ganey discussed consumer reports, red flag issues, and the role that Alternative Dispute Resolution plays in representing clients in this new environment.
The event closed with a clarifying view of what the future may hold, presented by moderator O’Dell, who, according to attendees, gave a great wrap-up of the entire program. “The closing session was excellent,” said one participant. “I’m glad I was given the opportunity to attend.”

Months of planning coupled with esteemed speakers contributed to a successful Third Annual Health Symposium. The seminar brought information and clarity without getting too political, according to participant feedback.

“I was afraid it would get political and was relieved that it didn’t,” said one attendee. “If all the discussion were only this reasonable!” he said.

Planning is already in motion for next year’s Fourth Annual Health Symposium, which will take place in October 2010, according to the Office of Dispute Resolution.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Healthcare Mediation Training




Planning for the Third Annual Symposium for Health Issues has been in motion for a couple months, and we are gearing up to bring quite an eventful program! We've been following health care reform updates daily, and we're very excited to be on the informational forefront of this new era in health care.

"Clashing Paradigms: A New America? - Health Care Reform and Where We Stand" is set for October 16, 2009 in Lubbock. We've recruited speakers from the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Department of Insurance, as well as other well informed speakers, to present at this year's seminar.

We will gather at the Region 17 Education Service Center on October 16 to hear the latest from national speaker, Corrine Parver, J.D., of the Washington College of Law, Executive Director of the Health Law Project in the Program on Law and Government. Ms. Parver will bring information about the current health care system landscape, pose the problems in the system that the White House and Congress are trying to fix, and then review initial and current proposals from the President and key Senate and House Committees in Congress.

Ms. Parver is hosting and speaking at the Washington College of Law’s Forum on Health Care Reform later this month, and has written a policy piece that will be published this Fall in the Suffolk University Law School's Journal of Health Law. She is a member of the Health Industry Access Initiative, which includes representatives from the provider, manufacturer and payor communities, and aims to influence the effect of reforms on the health care industry.

As a professor of Health Law, Current Trends in American Health Policy, Introduction to Medicine for Lawyers, and Legal Issues in Health Care Fraud and Abuse, Ms. Parver is an expert on health reform and its impacts on the legal industry. She looks forward to coming to Lubbock to share her research with our legal and health industries. “Undoubtedly, my personal political biases will filter through, but I’ll always present both sides of the issues,” she said. “As health care reform is a very moving target, I’ll be as current with my information as possible.”


This year's focus is, not surprisingly, the massive health care overhaul facing the United States. We'll have updates on a national, state, and local level to bring the latest information about what is going on and how we'll all be affected. We'll also discuss possible disputes associated with the changes, and look at how to prevent and solve those conflicts.

We're inviting doctors, nurses, all other health industry professionals, attorneys, insurance and pharmaceutical representatives, social workers, and consumers to this exciting spearhead seminar. Mark your calendar!

Admission is $75 (By Oct. 9). Please RSVP by October 9, as we'll be serving lunch and would like to make sure you're fed. Please call for group, student, or mediator discounts.

Who: The Office of Dispute Resolution for Lubbock County
What: Third Annual Symposium for Health Issues
When: October 16, 2009 - 9:00 AM (registration opens at 8) - 4:30 PM
Where: TBA
Why: To bring cutting-edge information about health care reform to the public and professionals of Texas

Call or contact us for more information.
806-775-1720, drc@co.lubbock.tx.us

Friday, June 26, 2009

Elder Continuing Education



This year's Elder Law training course is titled "Estate and Transition Planning: Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Related Issues." The 1-day continuing legal education seminar will cover important issues concerning the increasing elder population in Texas. It will provide you with practical skills and knowledge in handling the issues involved in elder law.

The course will earn you 6 participatory hours, including 3 ethics.

Glen Provost and Dana Moore are on board to teach the course this year.

Glen is an attorney who recently retired from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center where he served as Vice President for Health Policy, Director of the Aging Law and Policy Program, and Chair of the Garrison Institute on Aging Advisory Committee. He also served as adjunct professor of elder law at the Texas Tech Law School.
Glen's earlier career included positions in the Texas Governor’s Office, the University of Texas School of Public Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Texas Department of Health. In addition to his law degree he holds graduate degrees in public health and public affairs. He currently resides on Toledo Bend Lake in east Texas.

Dana practices in Texas, focusing on financial, commercial law, tax, real estate, and estates. She is experienced in both transactional work and litigation. She has experience in drafting and negotiating commercial and real estate contracts, real estate acquisition, business planning, and estate planning.
Dana is a practicing attorney-mediator with experience in domestic as well as international mediations for civil litigation and non-litigation matters. Since entering private practice, she has served as General Counsel for numerous corporations, project over-site counselor and has coached and counseled small and mid-level businesses as start-ups and in continuing growth sectors.

Early Bird (by 4 weeks prior) $125, Regular $150, At Door $175

If you or someone you know may be interested in this course or other training, please pass along the info or contact our office.
806-775-1720
Toll-free 1-866-329-3522


Monday, June 1, 2009

After training, will I be certified to mediate in Texas?



Will you receive a certificate?
Yes.

Will you be "certified"?
No.


You will be qualified. You will be trained.

You will have completed a minimum of 40 classroom hours of training pursuant to Chapter 154.052 (a) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. (If you attend Family Mediation Training, you will have the additional 24 hours required in 154.052(b) of the Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code).

The State of Texas has no formal certification process for mediators. In other words, there is no such thing as a "certified mediator" in Texas. Anyone can mediate. Anytime. Anywhere. HOWEVER, if you don't have the credentials, you will be 1) less likely to be appointed to mediate, and 2) much less prepared. A judge can appoint anyone to mediate, but without the 40 hour training (and additional 24 hour required to mediate family cases), that probably won't happen.

Our training provides valuable mediation techniques, practice, and information that you don't gain in law school, or as a counselor, or nurse, or in other areas where you may be trained. It prepares you to mediate as an effective, informed, and unbiased mediator. It also happens to be one of the best, and most affordable, in the state.





(Not that we're biased. ;)

Lubbock Office of Dispute Resolution: a Phenomenal Success...

Friday, May 29, 2009

Family Mediation Training

If you've been through Basic Mediation Training, and if you're interested in mediating family cases, taking our 24-hour Family Mediation Training is your next step. Because we offer this training only once a year, the demand is high. Space is limited, so call or email today to reserve your spot.

Our upcoming Family Mediation Training is in Kerrville, Texas on October 20 - 22, 2009.
It will be held at the YO Ranch Resort http://www.yoresort.com/
2033 Sidney Baker, (830) 257-4440
Toll Free 1-877-967-3767, Fax (830) 896-8189
Email yoresort@1859historichotels.com.
Ask for the Family Mediation Training room block, $83.00/night.

The training will cover topics including Family/Divorce Mediation and Family Code (General, Parent/Child Relationships, and Property), and you will have the opportunity to practice your newly learned skills with daily role play sessions.















Family Mediation Training, Ruidoso, 2008

Please call or email with any questions or to register.806-775-1720 Toll-free 1-866-329-3522 drc@co.lubbock.tx.us http://www.co.lubbock.tx.us/

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Texas Mediation Training

Please see appropriately titled blog or contact us for more information.
806.775.1720 866.329.3522 drc@co.lubbock.tx.us or visit our website

Blog with information regarding:

Basic Mediation Training
Family Mediation Training
Elder Continuing Education
Healthcare Mediation Training

To be posted in the near future:

Parenting Coordinator Training
Arbitration Training
Property Tax Arbitration Training
Continuing Education (and Continuing Legal Education)
ADR Professional Continuing Education
CPS Mediation Training

Annual Healthcare Symposium
Annual Juvenile Justice Symposium

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Basic Mediation Training

South Padre and Salado have come and gone, and we're gearing up to close 2009 and prepare our 2010 Basic Mediation Trainings.

The approaching 40-hour Basic Mediation Training is in Lubbock, from August 17 - 21, at the Science Spectrum Education Center. This course is first reserved for law students and government officials, but if you're interested, please call to have your name added to the waiting list. We'll open the training to the waiting list, then the public, on July 20. The course runs 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday, with the opportunity to mediate at the Office of Dispute Resolution on Friday.

If you can't get in the Lubbock training, we have several coming up in 2010.

Join us in sunny South Padre March 1 - 5,
in beautiful Ruidoso March 22 - 26,
in historical Nacogdoches April 26 - 30,
in our home town of Lubbock August 9 - 13*,
or back in Ruidoso on September 13 - 17, 2010.

Each 40-hour Basic Mediation Training course is approved by the State Bar of Texas for 40 participatory hours, including 3 ethics. After course completion you will receive a certificate stating that you successfully completed 40 hours of training in mediation and are qualified to serve as an impartial third party in accordance with the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. At this point you will be qualified to mediate in Texas.

The course is designed to satisfy the 40 classroom hours of training required to mediate court-referred disputes as indicated in the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act § 154.052, Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code. This course also meets the Texas Mediator Trainers Roundtable's requirements.

Call or visit our training website for more information!
806-775-1720
Toll-free 1-866-329-3522
drc@co.lubbock.tx.us
http://www.co.lubbock.tx.us/
(View previous trainings below)

*Call for details regarding Lubbock training registration. Reserved for law students.
_________________________________________


March's South Padre Basic Mediation Training went flawlessly. Karla's Katering did a fabulous job with the snacks and luncheons, and we received some really great feedback.

"Each of the simulations taught me a specific idea: the concept of position vs. interest, listening not only to the words but for clues to the underlying issues, it sharpened my listening skills. One simulation gave me some insight in putting the party at ease up front rather than immediately going fact hunting. I had a great time with everyone at South Padre."
- R. Ash, South Padre BMT Participant















South Padre Island Basic Mediation Training, March 2 - 6, 2009.

Salado (in April) also went quite well. Aside from the week of rainy days, the group was interactive and gave good feedback as well. Several are interested in Family Mediation Training, and we look forward to meeting them again in Kerrville on October 20 - 22 for that training this year.















Salado Basic Mediation Training, April 27 - May 1, 2009.


Please call or email with any questions or to register.
806-775-1720 Toll-free 1-866-329-3522 drc@co.lubbock.tx.us http://www.co.lubbock.tx.us/