Insight Matters
Winter, 2003

Candidate for OPA President-Elect:
Herman A. Tolbert, M.D.

POSITION STATEMENT

We are living and practicing psychiatry at a time of multiple challenges to our society, profession, and future. Without concerted effort, we may find ourselves forced out of the activities we love and worked to achieve. The role of OPA becomes crucial at such crisis points and I am proud to have been recommended to provide leadership as your President Elect. While initially awed by the responsibility of such a task, I realize the opportunity it gives me to serve the citizens of Ohio-- both OPA and the general public. I take the responsibility seriously and am honored to be considered for such a role in the future of Ohio Psychiatry.

There are many issues needing our attention if our profession is to flourish in the future. Not only must we deal with the assault by psychologists desirous of prescriptive privileges, but we must chart a course for the future of Psychiatry by attracting more members from new trainees and those practicing Psychiatry without formal ties to OPA. Since we work in multiple settings, we have multiple points of view and access to multiple sources of support. We must focus our thoughts and energies on how to be most effective in realizing the goals we all recognize OPA needs to reach to sustain a bright future for our public. Increasing our membership must be a primary goal.

Strong relationships with other physicians and medical groups are crucial to our survival. The selection of a physician to the position of Majority leader of the US Senate provides an opportunity for input to the Congress and White House as to the need for parity for mental health services in America. We must use our liaisons with OSMA and AMA for a chance at meaningful national change.

As a Child Psychiatrist, I am concerned about the mismatch between services and needs of children in Ohio. If we do not ensure their emotional and financial health and strengthen their altruism, we will be in dire straits when they take control of society. The shortage of child psychiatrists and inadequate funding of private and community services makes us vulnerable for social and medical disaster! We must alert the public to the treatment gaps and the way to development of adequate services in our communities and legal and correctional settings.

Better parenting skills are crucial to our future. Too many parents face challenges in child rearing for which they are not prepared, and for which we have not developed systems to remediate. Raising parenting standards by developing educational and support services which are as accessible as alcohol, rap music, weight loss and fast food is crucial.

Services for the elderly also need our attention. Medicare cuts endanger the elderly segment of the US population having full access to medical and psychiatric care due to the ongoing reduction in funding for this program. Practice costs have been rising since 1991, while Medicare reimbursement is headed back to 1991 levels. This will force physicians to refuse treatment to the Medicare population if proposed cuts continue.

We have the expertise to accomplish these meager goals and much more. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as ringmaster, cheerleader, and conscience, at times, for a proliferation of the great work and ideas we all are capable of accomplishing.

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