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News from Germany September 2008

At the annual general meeting (AGM) in June Silke Reinhartz was elected onto the executive for the position of education and research in place of Maria Miesen whose term of office had ended.

As from 1^st September Mr Jan Steinmetzer has been appointed by the association to develop a German language data bank of studies and literature (not only in the German language) relevant to OT. Furthermore together with Sabine George of the executive and a working group from council members the list of assessments is being updated and expanded to give more information about the assessments.

The DVE home-page has a new area for evidence based practice (EBP) within the membership only zone. Here there are already some summaries in German of useful articles and studies. This is being constantly increased. There are also links to appropriate date banks.

The education committee of the association is working on a change to the laws concerning the qualification of occupational therapists in two ways. It is hoped to introduce a ‘Model clause’ for the health professions, which will enable universities to hold the state examinations – at present this is confined to vocational schools. Secondly the whole basis of the education of OTs should be based on the tuning competencies instead of on the acquisition of facts.

 

March 2008

EUROPEAN CONGRESS 2008‘ Investing for progress’ 

The preparations for the COTEC Congress (www.cotec2008.dve.info) are now into the intensive stage and the number of registrations is growing.  The ‘early bird’ price ends at the end of March so interested OTs are advised to register without delay.  We look forward to welcoming you there!

Politics

The developments on the political front keep the association busy.  Together with other health professions the association is working for changes in the law covering occupational therapy.  From experience it is know that this requires a great deal of work and time.

A difference in the administration of out-patient treatment is leading to an electronic method of referral which it is hoped with provide greater transparency for all concerned.

Publicity

OT Journal – Ergotherapie und Rehabilitation has been published in a new design with full colour as from February 2008. 

Working together with a press agency seems to be having a positive effect and OT is being mentioned more often in the media.

The association is updating many of the leaflets, which are published to provide information especially for service users.  The website is being redesigned and updated, it will be going online soon.

This year the annual general meeting will be held on a Saturday in Berlin and not in conjunction with the congress.  There will be a lecture and possibility of visiting various OT practices.  This will be an interesting experience for the association.