Fall 2001, Vol
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BULLETIN NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION Fall 2001, Vol. 44, #3 • Bringing New York State Psychiatrists Together President’s Message: Responding Coping With Bioterrorism Anxiety to Disaster and Aftermath The following is a press release from the APA central office. It is intended for the lay press and is reproduced here for your use with your patients and to help answer questions from the by Jim Nininger, M.D., President, New York State Psychiatric Association public. Feel free to distribute as needed. –Ed. s I write this referral. Members should ear and anxiety are normal dren, especially when it is viewed message, thou- contact their district human reactions to a perceived repetitively. A sands of psychia- branches directly. Hospi- Fthreat or danger. But such Find ways to distract yourself from trists in New York City, tals, clinics and social uncertainty is manageable if people thinking about the potential for harm. New York State and service agencies also are keep the threat in perspective, the Get involved in an activity that you across the country are offering counseling and American Psychiatric Association said can control: work in the garden, clean responding to the attack referral. Help is out there. today. the basement, do volunteer work, take on the World Trade Psychiatrists are espe- “The reports and images of the up an old hobby, take a “time out” Center and the Pentagon. cially prepared by their September 11 atrocity and recent and go to the movies or a play. There are thousands of training and expertise to bioterrorism are frightening to all of casualties, tens of Jim Nininger, M.D. address the short and long us,” says Richard K. Harding, M.D., [See Bioterrorism on page 2] thousands of family term impact of this event. APA President. “But knowledge and members who must deal with the loss Whether it is called shell shock, battle information based on fact can help us As we were going to press, the of loved ones and millions of virtual fatigue, Vietnam War syndrome or manage our understandable anxiety.” eyewitnesses in every corner of this post traumatic stress disorder, psychia- The Association offers the follow- tragic events of September 11, nation who saw over and over, and in trists know about the impact of this ing advice on how to live with the fear 2001 were unfolding. This issue excruciating detail, the face of evil on type of disaster. The true scope of the and anxiety caused by the threat of of the Bulletin is over one month September 11th. psychiatric problems from this tragedy bioterrorism. late and contains a mixture of NYSPA has responded to a request will be seen not just over the ensuing Educate yourself about the poten- pre-September 11 and post- from Commissioner Stone of the NYS months, but over years, and not only tial danger. Facts are frequently less Office of Mental Health and prepared among those who were at “ground frightening than rumors and myth. September 11 items. You are a list of psychiatrists who are ready to zero” or who lost, or feared they had The federal Centers for Disease encouraged to e-mail me with volunteer their services to those in lost, a family member or friend, but Control is an excellent source at any news from your individual need. Psychiatrists who want to add also among those who only viewed www.cdc.gov <http://www.cdc.gov/> . District Branches ASAP at their names to this list should contact the horrific scenes on their television. If television or other news reports <citrome@nki. rfmh.org> for the NYSPA Central Office and check We are also awaiting a public significantly increase feelings of the NYSPA website (nyspsych.org) for statement from the behavioral anxiety and helplessness, don’t watch inclusion in the next issue of the more information. Many district managed care industry affirming their or read them; you don’t need to know Bulletin to be published in branches have organized efforts to intention to insure that patients in every last detail. Television news of December 2001. provide support, counseling and [See President’s Message on page 2] violence can be frightening to chil- Physician Discipline in New York State LEGISLATIVE UPDATE by Martha Crowner, M.D. Dr. Crowner is on staff at Manhattan Psychiatric Center. What follows is a description of the Legislative Year in Review sometimes mysterious disciplinary processes in place in New York State. Additional by Richard Gallo, NYSPA Legislative Consultant information can be found at <http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/opmc/main.htm>. -Ed. he scope of practice debate was Psychological arlier this year the New York sional Medical Conduct (OPMC) in the forefront by mid-April as Association with State Commissioner of Health received 6106 complaints, while in the T the sponsors of the various bills the help of Senate Esuspended the license of a same year the Board for Professional at issue pushed for closure by June. Majority; but the prominent surgeon at New York Medical Conduct (the Board) carried Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) agreement, as Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. His out 357 disciplinary actions. At each came under attack in May as the discussed below, license was suspended though hear- successive step of the process between result of two controversial cases at has become undone. ings to investigate numerous charges receiving a complaint and issuing a the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center on Psychology of negligence and incompetence are disciplinary action many matters are Long Island. The Mental Health still ongoing because, according to Dr. resolved. Insurance parity bill in the Assembly The new problem with the Novello’s order, he constitutes an Who Complains? was strengthened, during the legisla- psychology scope of practice bill imminent danger to the health of the tive session, to a full mandate for a surfaced when the psychology people of our state. The great majority of complaints, broad array of benefit plans. And the proposal and the mental health How does this happen? What 60%, came from the public, but New York State Psychiatric practitioners’ bill were reattached to process does New York State employ substantial proportions came from Association’s efforts with the Legisla- one another in late June. In the to police physicians? How are com- insurance companies (13%), other ture and the Governor with respect to resulting amendment, three words plaints investigated? What is report- states (11%), and governmental State Budget bills is ongoing with were left out of the psychology able misbehavior? What is not? agencies (10%). A much smaller expectations of positive results if and portion of the bill. The three words, Many Complaints proportion came from hospitals or when a comprehensive budget is “use of titles,” were part of a broader health care facilities (3%), or other adopted. exemption to amplify that nothing The process starts with a complaint. physicians and medical societies in the psychology scope of practice In 2000 the New York State Depart- (2%). Hospitals, nursing homes and Scope Of Practice law would affect or prevent the ment of Health’s Office of Profes- HMO’s are required by law to report The thirty years of rancor over practice, conduct, activities, services, when they have a probable suspicion who should be licensed as a mental or “use of titles” by a licensed INSIDE THIS ISSUE: of misconduct. Other states are health professional and what they physician. The net effect of drop- required to report physicians against should or should not be authorized ping the three little words would be whom they took disciplinary action. to do may be coming to an end. to prohibit physicians from perform- From the Editor’s Desk 2 If the doctors are also licensed in New Three and one half years of a con- ing “psychological” services, includ- York, our state may take action against certed effort to craft legislation ing psychological and Trustee’s Report ............ 3 their licenses. Physicians are required acceptable to all of the parties neuro-psychological testing because to report misconduct in their col- involved appears to be in the offing. the term “psychological” is other- Classified Ads .................. 4 leagues. In case they cannot be certain NYSPA, together with the Medical wise restricted in the bill to use by that another physician’s behavior is Society of the State of New York licensed psychologists only. Need- misconduct they may consult with (MSSNY), have negotiated bill less to say, when the psychologists Committee Reports...... 4 OPMC while not revealing the language with respect to the licens- acknowledged the phrase was not physician’s name or they may choose ing of “mental health practitioners” inadvertently omitted in the revised Portrait ............................. 6 to report to a hospital peer review that will enable the medical commu- bill, the weapons came out again in committee or to a county medical nity to remove its opposition to the the opposing camps and the struggle Medi-Comment .............. 7 society. bill. Similarly, an agreement was continues. [See DISCIPLINE on page 7] reached in June with the State [See LEGISLATIVE on page 8] THE BULLETIN From the Editor’s Desk… NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC Deep Six The Bulletin? More Nays than Yeas! ASSOCIATION received a total of Deep six the Bulletin. Too • Bulletin Editorial Board fourteen responses much of my dues gets wasted • Committee on Children and Editorial Board I from the NYSPA on this junk. Adolescents Leslie Citrome, M.D., M.P.H. membership regarding the From this small • District Branch Presidents Commit- Editor–in–Chief questions raised last issue sample of 14, we see that tee Nathan Kline Institute about the future of the 86% were in favor of • Committee on Early Career Psy- 140 Old Orangeburg Road printed Bulletin.