March 20, 2007 Message: Update from the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force

March 20, 2007 Message: Update from the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force

Date: March 20, 2007

To: House of Delegates, ADA Members and Other Stakeholders

From: Colleen Matthys, RD
Chair, Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force

Subject: Update from the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force

This is the second report of the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force. Our first report was posted on November 15, 2006. If you would like to review this report, you can find it at www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/governance_10249_ENU_HTML.htm.

Thank you for Participating
The Task Force would like to thank all members and stakeholders that responded to our request to participate in the visioning exercise we conducted from December 6, 2006 to January 26, 2007. Over 100 responses were provided, either individually or collectively (two or more stakeholders). The input received was very thoughtful and in-depth. The average length of a comment submitted was anywhere from 300-2500 words per response and provided the Task Force with over 90 pages of reading. A summary of stakeholder feedback is attached for your review.

The feedback has been useful to the Task Force in identifying future practice roles for the RD at entry-level practice (first three years of practice) as well as experienced-level practice (advanced-level and specialty-level). This information also will provide a basis for the review and identification of the roles, competencies and relevant education for the Dietetic Technician, Registered, which will be addressed later. We will be pursuing the identification of future practice roles for the DTR, but decided to address the RD first since the role of the RD influences the future roles of DTRs and experienced RDs.

Next Steps in Process
The Task Force has been working with the House Leadership Team to conduct a discussion of the feedback received from the visioning exercise during the Spring 2007 House of Delegates (HOD) Meeting. This meeting is March 17 to 18, 2007. The focus of the HOD discussion is to identify the preferred practice roles with the greatest impact on employment for the entry-level RD in 2017. In addition, the discussion will assist in further identifying barriers to these preferred practice roles. This information will be used to finalize our preferred future practice roles for the entry-level RD and to help in determining the DTR and experienced RD future practice roles.

Task Force Workgroups and Responsibilities
The Task Force has been divided into five Workgroups to address various elements of the Task Force charge. The list of Workgroups and responsibilities are noted below. You will hear more about the efforts of these Workgroups later.

Future Practice RD Workgroup

  1. Define future practice and roles.
  2. Identify knowledge and skill sets needed for entry level.

Advanced-Level Practice and Specialty Practice Workgroup

  1. Identify distinctions between advanced-level practice and entry-level practice.
  2. Identify specialization areas, RD and support.
  3. Identify broadly skill sets needed.

Support Practitioners Workgroup

  1. Identify roles/functions of support practitioners.
  2. Identify knowledge and skill sets for entry level.
Education Workgroup
Recommend degree and supervised practice requirements.

Implementation Workgroup
Recommend strategies and timeline.

DEP Area Meeting Updates
Members of the Task Force are attending all seven of the DEP Area Meetings and providing a 15 to 30 minute update on our work. We have already presented to Area 3 in February. Also, we have been communicating with Jean Anderson, Chair, DEP DPG so we can share information about ideas and issues that are mutually beneficial.

Next Report
We hope to post another report in mid-April regarding our understanding of all the data from the visioning exercise for RDs and to update you on the activities of the five Task Force Workgroups. Watch for this message.

Thoughts or Ideas
If any stakeholder has any thoughts or ideas to share with the Phase 2 Future Practice & Education Task Force, please send a message to its electronic mailbox (Phase2TaskForce@eatright.org).