xxAACP Newsletter, Volume 14, Number 3, Summer 2000
Board of Directors' Report
The AACP Board met in
conjunction with the APA Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 13-14, 2000.
Chicago enticed meeting participants with its restaurants, diversity,
baseball, jazz, and blues. AACPers enjoyed a tour and reception at
Recovery, Inc. The Board was visited by Howard Goldman, MD, principle
author of the
Surgeon General's report on suicide, and by Tom Hester,MD of the National Association of State Mental Health
Program Directors. Other highlighs of the Board meeting included:
Committee Reports:
- Program Committee
The next Board meeting will be held October 28 - 29, 2000 in conjunction with the 2000 IPS meeting in Philadelphia . It is anticipated that the Membership Forum will be scheduled prior to the Board meeting. Through the coordination of Robert Ronis, MD the Winter AACP Board Meeting will be held in Cleveland, Ohio March 9 - 11, 2001 in conjunction with Ohio's statewide "All-Ohio" meeting.
- Membership Committee
This was Dr. Linda Gochfeld's final meeting as Chair of this committee. Annelle Primm, MD will assume the Chair at the upcoming Board meeting. As of May 2000 our membership was 571 with an additional 127 members who had not yet paid 2000 dues. Area representatives have been contacting these members to renew their memberships. The committee discussed plans for more active outreach to early career psychiatrists (ECPs).
- Finance Committee
The Finance Committee recommended a dues increase to $100.00 for a single year membership. This dues increase will not affect members-in-training. The dues increase will be presented to the membership for approval. The following motions were made and approved:
- Multi-year membership rates go into effect on January 1, 2001 as follows: 2 years - $170, 3 years - $240, 5 years - $375.
- The group rate will be $50/year for groups of 5 or more members.
- Staffing Committee
Jackie Feldman, MD and Charley Goldman, MD gave a report delineating the progress of the committee over the past three years and suggestions for future committee work. Preliminary results of the psychiatrists/LOCUS survey and the Consumer/Family Member and Mental Health Care Provider Questionnaire were circulated and discussed. Charley Huffine, MD will replace Dr. Feldman as co-chair of this committee.
- Training Committeee
Under the direction of Jack Haggerty, MD , the "A-Train" listserve has been developed as a vehicle for training directors to collect model community psychiatry curricula. Robert Goisman, MD has sent a letter to the American Academy of Family Physicians inviting them to collaborate with AACP on educational issues. The National Health Service has recognized psychiatry as an example of primary care medicine. Ken Thompson, MD has been working to get AACP more formally involved in various medical student organizations.
Liaison Updates
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
(AACAP)
Andres Pumariega, MD reported that the AACAP is involved with the AMA's youth violence initiative . He also reports that the AACAP/AACP work group has started the site testing for CALOCUS version 3.00. Once the guidelines are received, the work on the younger version of Child LOCUS will begin. Dr. Pumariega will be working on standards for confidentiality.
- American Society of Adolescent Pscyhiatrists (ASAP)
Charles Huffine, MD reported from the 2000 Annual Meeting where a debate was held on conduct disorder and the elimination of this diagnosis from the DSM V. ASAP is in favor of requesting that this diagnosis be eliminated.
- Association of Women Psychiatrists (AWP)
Barbara Rohland, MD will be the new liaison to the AWP. AACP member Nada Stotland is being honored at the APA as the Alexandra Symonds Award Lecturer this year. The AWP is in the process of developing a listserve.
AADPRT and RRC
Robert Goisman, MD and Robert Ronis, MD reported on the activities in the area of residency training. At the last meeting, the major issue was cultural competency. The next issue for review is competency in psychotherapy.Additional Meetings
Board members continue to share AACP's objectives and concerns in a number of settings. National meetings in which members recently participated/will be participating include:
- NAMI Annual Meeting: Stephen Goldfinger, MD and Jackie Feldman, MD ;
- Leadership Summit, (organized by the APA including nine allied organizations): Jackie Feldman, MD ;
- Carter Symposium: Jackie Feldman, MD .
Continuity of Care/Hospital Discharge Policy for Adults
Barbara Rohland, MD presented the drafts of policies for adults and children/adolescents. The Committee is in the process of developing approaches for target populations. A general statement about continuity of care and principles of treatment will be made as a preamble. A document relating to substance abuse disorders will be written under the direction of Wes Sowers, MD .Outpatient Commitment
The MacArthur Foundation has funded the Bazelon Center to write a document about outpatient commitment. Fred Osher, MD has been working with the Bazelon Center on this issue. David Pollack, MD has been collecting information about outpatient commitment laws in different states. An active discussion was generated by the Board with regard to coercion, the denial of illness, and need for treatment. Currently the data on involuntary commitment is being reviewed and a position paper will be forthcoming.Residential Treatment Centers
Many of the deaths involving seclusion and restraints have occurred among children and adolescents. A number of these have occurred in residential treatment centers, especially in rural areas. Charles Huffine, MD will be working collaboratively with others to define what are appropriate residential functions. The issue will be referred to the AACP Child/Adolescent Committee for further work.Principles for Defining Medical Necessity in Mental Health Treatment
Under the direction of Nael Kilzieh, MD , the Principles for Defining Medical Necessity in Mental Health Treatment was revised and approved.Back to Summer 2000 Table of Contents