Insight Matters
Winter, 2002

Presidential message: How do we measure up?

By the time you receive this newsletter, it will already be February, and our organizational "year" will be three-quarters completed.

As I prepared for the past weekend's Council meeting in Columbus, it occurred to me that just as my kids' teachers send out their interim report cards, it's time for us to "take stock:" Time to look at how we're "measuring up," how well we're accomplishing what we set out to do at the beginning of the year, and how to improve our performance before the year is over.

Referring back to your "Summer 2001" edition of Insight Matters, you will recall that we started this year by determining five "short term" stategic goals with several specific objectives for the year. Here they are, along with my version of our "report card:"

1. Various advocacy functions: A+

Advocating for ourselves, our profession and our patients; for ethical standards of care and ethical practices were among the highest priorities listed. We were pleased to endorse two controversial yet extremely important position statements at our Fall meeting: "Ethical Standards of Care in Emergency Services" and "Ethical Involvement of Insurance Companies in Clinical Treatment Decisions..." To be sure, not all of our members agree with the standards proposed; some have even questioned the authority of the DB to determine ethical standards for the profession which may be in conflict with the standards set forth by our national organization: Nevertheless, these statements provide a platform from which to advance the discussion, to question our assumptions about what is right and our acceptance of outside interpretations of appropriate standards of care. We hope to take the next step, toward a dialogue within our own organization and with our medical colleagues; and perhaps to propose these position statements to the APA through our Assembly Representatives.

Political and economic advocacy, alliances with other health professionals and organizations were also priorities, as was "designing a specific advocacy function for each OPA meeting." Your officers had an introduction to political advocacy training at the summer leadership retreat, and members at the Fall Meeting had the opportunity to join with members of NAMI/Ohio to discuss our mutual concerns and strategize for the future. Your governmental relations and economic affairs committees continue to take an active role at the Statehouse, successfully joining with our other medical colleagues and allied organizations to fight psychologist prescribing privileges, to struggle for meaningful parity legislation, to oppose the Marriage and Family Therapists Licensure Bill, to promote the Ohio Health Care Fairness Act and others. Many OPA members joined the statewide hearings on the Governor's proposed mental health budget cuts, and successfully turned the tide by getting a substantial amount restored for the current biennium. We continue on the local, state and national level to advocate for a level playing field, for fair compensation and for recognizing the critical value of appropriate, professional psychiatric services to our communities.

2. Recruitment of new members: B-

Improved recruitment and participation of medical students and residents; of early career psychiatrists, local, state and federal public mental health providers and the various psychiatric subspecialists was a second priority...and here, our progress is harder to quantitate. In fact, our official roles note a slight but perceptible decline in membership of about 1% for the current year - but as compared to a 7% drop in national APA membership - we were in fact recognized by the APA as one of the highest retainers of membership from the larger district branches in the country. More than 70% of self-identified Psychiatrists in Ohio belong to the OPA. Nevertheless, this remains cause for concern rather than celebration. We have active MIT, ECP and Public Psychiatry committees, whose programs and energies no doubt have in great measure contributed to our membership rolls: We have, at this weekend's meeting, established a mentorship program for our younger members, another objectives we set forth last summer...But we have not suffectively reached out to the subspecialty providers, to establish formal liaisons to the various subspecialty groups, or to provide our non-member colleagues with education on the benefits of membership.

3. Improving Communications: A-

Embracing the capabilities of the new e-technologies; developing a new and functional website for the organization; developing functional listservs for committee work; reconsidering the role and functions of our newsletter and other written communications...

Our new and improved website went "on-line" this past fall (if you haven't seen it, log on TODAY to www.ohiopsych.org!!!) and is definitely a major step forward, both in content and appearance. We have two functioning listservs already up and running: One for the leadership group (council, chairmen, chapter presidents and presidents-elect); and one for the Ohio Coalition of Community Psychiatrists (aka the Public Psychiatry committee). Our other committees are establishing or already using e-mail lists and increasingly using the e-technologies to accomplish business. Our Electronic Communications Committee is revitalized under the leadership of Dr. Marion Sherman, and is considering its work priorities for the coming year, including the provision of training opportunities for our "non-on-line" members to join the parade. We began a discussion regarding our newsletter and the pro's and con's of "going electronic" at this Sunday's Council meeting. We are clearly making headway in this exciting arena, but still have a ways to go.

4. Promoting Volunteerism: C

Encouraging local volunteer projects, such as participation in local Free Clinics, depression and anxiety screening days etc.: Some local chapters do have regular volunteer activities. In Cleveland for example our MITs and general members volunteer at the Free Clinic, with residents seeing patients under the supervision of senior "faculty." Other communities may have similar projects, but we have not followed through with developing a "...high visibility, statewide volunteer project, promoting public health and providing opportunities for collegiality and fellowship..." In the wake of September 11, we realize one of the most critical volunteer efforts relates to disaster preparedness. Our Disaster Committee has hit the ground running, soliciting volunteer membership from local chapters, distributing a membership survey to detemine crisis response resources, preparing a call-down list of volunteers and promoting disaster preparedness education and communications resources. Again, we are making an inroad, but have much work ahead to truly achieve this objective.

5. Educating the Public: D-

"An active program of public education regarding mental health issues, our profession and our role in the mental health and general healthcare communities... (with)...a specific objective of doubling public education efforts..." The good news: The double of nothing is nothing, so I suppose we've accomplished that part... In fact, we do attempt to educate the public in all that we do; in our advocacy efforts, to educate our elected representatives and their constituents to the importance of medical training to the provision of appropriate psychiatric services; and to the unmet needs particularly of the public sector patient...but in fairness, we have done little so far to promote this goal. Once again, 9/11 offers us opportunities for community education for secondary prevention during disasters, and to expand the public's newfound sensitization to the concept of "trauma" to an understanding of the "lesser" disasters of daily living.

So, all told, I guess we're at a C+/B- average for the term...not bad, but not as good as we are capable of. Join with me in revisiting these objectives, and let's see how far we can pull up these grades before the end of the year...and for extra credit, review our "long term goals:"

1. Advocating for our profession
2. Strengthening our collaborations
3. Promoting collegiality and mutual support
4. Addressing the unique and diverse needs of the membership
5. Advocating for the underserved

Together, let's make OPA the organization we want it to be - the heart, mind and voice of Ohio Psychiatry.

Robert J. Ronis, M.D.
OPA President

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