Berkshire Area Health Education Center, have been granted American Occupational Therapy Association

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Berkshire Area Health Education Center is pleased to announce that they have been granted American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider status. Berkshire AHEC is authorized to assign AOTA CEUs to continuing education activities that meet the parameters established by the AOTA APP Criteria and Guidelines through 5/30/2012 for courses that take place in a face-to-face format with both the instructor and learner in the same physical location.

Karen C. Smith, OT/L, Approved Provider Program Manager for AOTA noted “Approved Provider status is a demonstration of Berkshire AHEC’s commitment to meet the professional development needs of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by offering quality continuing education programming that is meaningful and relevant to the profession.”

In addition, Berkshire AHEC has been approved through a cooperative agreement with Massachusetts Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) to offer 0.6 CEUs in the Intermediate level/ professional area for the Emerging Technologies in Rehabilitation Conference on Friday, June 13th at Cranwell Resort in Lenox, MA. The Massachusetts Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology.

The Emerging Technologies in Rehabilitation conference is the first of its kind for Berkshire AHEC and meets the requirements for contact hours for nurses as specified by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, for Respiratory Therapists by the American Association for Respiratory Care, for licensed nursing home administrators by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators, for Physical Therapists and now for occupational therapists. The conference will provide a variety of sessions that will offer information on emerging technologies, research and current clinical applications in rehabilitation, communication and patient care. Emphasis will be placed on incorporation into routine clinical practice and sessions will highlight ways to coordinate efforts of multiple non-physician providers to effectively advance excellence in patient care.

More information about Berkshire AHEC and its continuing education offerings can be found on its new website at www.berkshireahec.org or by calling 413-447-2417.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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