What's New? -

March, 2010
From the desk of Colleen Boyce,
Executive Director

      As always, we are so excited about the prospect of Spring and, despite the cold weather, we did not have much snow or ice. Please be cognizant of injury prevention as the weather improves!

      The HCAI (Health Claims for Auto Insurance) system has completed their pilot findings and have made recommendations to proceed with a full adoption by all auto insurers by March 31st 2010. It is expected that the health care facilities will begin in April 2010, although some (NRIO included) will begin in March.  All OCF forms must be transmitted to participating insurers; those not participating will have to make due with the "age old paper process." Email providesupport@hcaiinfo.ca or visit www.hcaiinfo.ca  for additional information. The new Insurance act is confirmed and the new regulations are on the FSCO website, with an effective date of September, 2010. The Alliance of Community Medical and Rehabilitation Providers continues to be extremely active and many Alliance members are sitting on a number of stakeholder committees. The Alliance is working on advocacy protocols, resolution of the complaints depository, and is acting as a liaison with brokers. Additionally the Alliance is facilitating FSCO working groups, reviewing new regulations, creating a web site, and developing best business practice standards; amazingly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Alliance continues to require funds to support these initiatives. Please contact me if you would like to become a member of the Alliance.

            The Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) continues with monthly community meetings; the “Celebration of the Volunteers” in February was a great success. BIST has issued a “call for artists” for its featured artist competition, which will feature personal stories and speakers in preparation for the Brain Injury Awareness event in June. Please visit www.bist.ca for details or contact BIST at 416 830 1485; the email address is info@bist.ca. The AC (Awareness Committee, under the auspices of BIST) has planned for June “Brain Injury Awareness Month” 2010 with a lunch time event on Thursday, June 17th; this will feature the “Musical Mentors Band” and buskers… It’s sure to be lots of fun; more details to follow!!

          NRIO’s Spring Breakfast Seminar Series starts this month. The March 22nd breakfast seminar topic is “Paradigm Shift;” the talk will surround information pertaining to the new SABS; Nick Gurevich and Karen Rucas will present. Dr. Rob Van Reekum will have an open, interactive forum on April 22nd; the forum is entitled “Ask the Neuroshrink.” Jeanette Podolsky and Megan Wood will present on May 27th on partnering with Speech Language Pathologists; Mitch Moshenberg will focus on home modifications specific to the impact of vertigo and proprioception on safety on June 11th. Rolf Gainer, Ph.D. will present “Life Span,” a talk surrounding issues of aging with a brain injury on June 24th.  Please contact Christine Romanenchuk at 416 231 4358 ext. 228 to register.   

          There are many upcoming seminars, training sessions and workshops pertaining to the new SABS.  At the time of printing, the following were advertised:  NRIO’s Breakfast Seminar, March 22nd; Marking Sense of Ontario’s Auto Insurance Reform, April 1st – 1 888 734 2290; Thomson Rogers New SABS March 31st, April 20th, April 26th, and April 30th – www.thomsonrogers.com OSOT, one day event, April 16th -  osot@osot.on.ca 416 322 3011.    

         NRIO is pleased to announce Barbara Thomasson has joined our Occupational Therapy department and multi disciplinary team. Barbara has over 20 years of OT experience, working in the community, ABI, as well as with adults and school age populations. Barbara is also a teacher and she has experience in completing Form 1’s, In home assessments, mobility, seating, functional capacity and neurocognitive testing, as well as a host of other skills.

On behalf of all NRIO clients, staff, and the board of directors, I would like to wish you a safe and happy Spring Season!