Psychiatric News 1-16-1998

[Jean Kajikawa]

     Hi everyone.  I am forwarding a message that I received fyi.
     
     I have also been asked to see what your thoughts are about 
     Pscyhologist prescribing (the Am. Psychology Assn is working on this - 
     not to be confused with the Psychiatric Assn and below topic).  Any 
     comments are welcomed.
     
     (Hi Kathy Carson!)
     
     Jean Kajikawa
     Sr. Public Health Advisor
     Office of Pacific Health & Human Services
     Box 50166, 300 Ala Moana Blvd.
     Honolulu, Hawaii  96850
     808-541-2015
     email:  jkajikawa at hrsa.dhhs.gov


______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Subject: Psychiatric News 1-16-1998
Author:  Pat DeLeon <deleon1 at erols.com> at INTERNET
Date:    1/22/98 10:18 PM



>X-Sender: deleon1 at pop.erols.com

>Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 22:17:55 -0500 

>To: deleon1 at erols.com

>From: Pat DeLeon <deleon1 at erols.com> 

>Subject: Psychiatric News 1-16-1998 

>

>APA Opposes Expansion of Nurse Prescribing Privileges --

>       "At the same time the issue of psychologist prescribing has been the 

focus

>of intense concentration in American psychiatry, nurse practitioners have 

>quietly gained prescribing privileges in at least 35 states." [Actually, 49 

>-Aloha]

>       

>       "Now, nurse psychotherapists and psychiatric clinical nurses are pushing

>to gain prescriptive authority.  The issue is emerging as a major challenge

>to those concerned about scope of practice and its potential adverse impact 

>on quality of patient care, and will share a forum with psychologist 

>prescribing at APA's State Legislative and Public Affairs Joint Institute 

>in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. next month."

>

>       "The specifics vary from state to state.  For psychiatry, however, the 

>underlying issue is the impact of expanded scope of practice on patients

>who may be denied insurance coverage for visits to a psychiatrist but will 

>be reimbursed for visits to a nurse, or who may believe that they are 

>receiving a comparable level of care from a nurse practitioner authorized 

>to prescribe psychiatric drugs."

>

>       "....Unlike psychologists, nurse practitioners have substantial medical 

>education and may be required by state boards of nursing to augment that 

>education with pharmacology course work...."

>

>       "Our position is that if they are going to prescribe, they should do so 

>only in collaboration with a psychiatrist or physician with substantial 

>experience in treating mental illness....lobbyist for the Maryland 

>Psychiatric Society...."

>

>       "The expansion of nursing practice to include broad prescriptive 

>authority, particularly among psychiatric nurses and nurse 

>psychotherapists, represents 'a significant threat to quality of patient 

>care'.... Prescribing bills enacted by nurses are often used as a 

>legislative gateway for psychologists' prescribing initiatives in the 

>states...."

>

>       "This is not solely a turf issue, but also a health and safety issue for

>patients....  We hope psychiatrists will work with physician colleagues for 

>the protection of patients...."

>

>       "Psychiatrists stand side by side with psychiatric nurses in advocating 

>for the full range of care that patients with mental illness need....  At

>the same time, the.... Psychiatric Society must object to opening the door 

>that may remove the patient from the treatment team."

>

>

>