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Oregon Health Licensing Agency's Licensing Line
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Article Content
January 4, 2008
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| New Year, New Services @ OHLA: Expanded Hours, Examinations, and More |
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Just in time for the New Year, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) begins offering expanded hours and new services on Monday, January 7, 2008.
OHLA begins staying open during the lunch hour and expands examination times to five days a week – just a few of the more visible changes to the agency to better serve OHLA customers.
“What are we doing to make our customers feel special?” asks Richard McNew, who has headed OHLA’s recent agency reorganization efforts at the direction of OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson. “We are not only a consumer protection agency. We’re an agency that helps qualified professionals get to work and keep working.”
OHLA is looking to improve upon its already impressive rate of providing “same-day licensing” to more than 60 percent of applicants while expanding other services to assist customers.
“The intent of the reorganization is to provide more efficient, responsive and accountable public service,” says Wilson. “Within the first six months of the new biennium, we have reengineered the agency toward those goals. We think our customers will notice the difference.”
Find out more about the OHLA agency reorganization and new service offerings by clicking on New Year, New Services @ OHLA (PDF).
(PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Click here to download the latest copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader if you are unable to access the file.)
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| New OHLA Divisions: Improved Delivery of Service |
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OHLA Business Administration Manager Richard McNew
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McNew heads up the newly created Business Administration Division, which has more fully integrated the agency’s overall operation with its fiscal accounting and reporting. The division has also cross-trained OHLA staff around core service functions to better respond to fluctuations in customer demand.
McNew calls the newly created Policy & Strategic Planning Division, managed by Trish Allbritton, a “higher level of customer service.” The new division will formulate and implement policy that is both agency-wide and profession-specific in focus while reviewing and initiating OHLA’s efforts toward achieving the agency's consumer protection mission.
The Regulatory Operations Division will emphasize service even more with an increasing emphasis on providing resources to licensees in 17 health and related professions to help them stay in compliance with health, safety and infection control regulations.
Regulatory Operations Acting Manager Tim Molloy is designing a training program focused on health, safety and infection control requirements that will be offered to licensees in lieu of paying a civil fine if they are found in violation of state regulations.
“We want to give licensees more options to stay in compliance,” Molloy says. “We want to educate licensees and build relationships that benefit both our licensees and consumers.”
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| Other New Services at OHLA, in the Field |
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Agency customers will notice other new offerings, such as two information kiosks in the OHLA customer service area. The kiosks provide applicants and licensees access to OHLA’s Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA to study before an examination, renew their license, or download and print any of the numerous OHLA public education materials and resources.
Coming soon: OHLA inspectors will begin issuing proposed disciplinary actions during inspections, providing licensees with more time to respond and better information on the disciplinary process.
OHLA is also finalizing its new online resource for consumers and others interested in the regulatory compliance record of all OHLA licensees. The resource will list all disciplinary final orders and is expected to be launched in early 2008.
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| OHLA Director Calls Reorganization "Foundation for Regulatory Success" |
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OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson
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OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson describes how the agency's reorganization is "laying the foundation for regulatory success" in her Message from the Director.
"Our goal is to provide maximum value -- value that results in positive outcomes for both Oregon consumers and our more than 87,000 license holders in 17 health and related professions," Wilson says.
To view the Message from the Director, click here.
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| Sex Offender Treatment Board Meets, Is Impressed |
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The newly established Sex Offender Treatment Board (SOTB) possesses an impressive roster of professionals in the field.
After the SOTB met for the first time on Friday 11/30/07, Chair Dr. William Davis said board members were “…impressed with the organization and thoroughness of OHLA staff.”
“The SOTB has an important role in working with OHLA to establish a care and oversight program we can monitor under our existing law,” says OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson. “The qualifications and knowledge SOTB members bring to the process will be invaluable.”
“We have much work to accomplish, but I’m confident after our first meeting that we are in capable hands with OHLA,” added Davis.
The SOTB will initially be focusing on developing Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) for the profession and working with OHLA to ensure the many and diverse stakeholders of this new regulatory program are involved in the rulemaking process.
To learn more about the SOTB, click here. To download a brochure highlighting the scope and schedule of 2008 rulemaking, click here (PDF). To view SOTB member biographies, click here (PDF).
(PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Click here to download the latest copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader if you are unable to access the file.)
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| OHLA Volunteer Citizen Board, Council Meetings Set for 2008 |
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Regular meetings of the nine volunteer citizen boards and councils within the OHLA central agency have been set for 2008.
To view the 2008 meeting schedule, click on Volunteer Board & Council Meetings.
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| Where to Find Licensing Line Back Issues |
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the Licensing Line link under “News You Can Use.”
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| Licensing Line Reader Feedback |
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Your comments and suggestions about Licensing Line and the issues we cover are greatly appreciated! Let OHLA Communications Officer Kraig Bohot know what you think at kraig.bohot@state.or.us or call him at 503-373-1939.
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