As I begin my new career on a university faculty after 38+ years on the U.S. Senate staff, I am impressed by the opportunities the behavioral sciences (including psychology) have to "make a difference." David Krantz, Chair of the Department of Psychology at the UniformedServices University of the Health Sciences (Department of Defense) and I visited their Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). Courtnee Pelton serves as the Military Programs Training Course Coordinator. Commissioned into the Army in 2006 through the Health Professions Scholarship Program, she completed her Army psychology internship at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu and her residency at Madigan Army MedicalCenter, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Tacoma. She was then assigned to the 162nd Infantry Brigade, Ft. Polk, serving as Brigade Psychologist for two years. At the CDP she directs the 8-day "Topics in Deployment Psychology" conference, in addition to presenting on issues related to the deployment cycle. This conference provides in-depth training on a variety of deployment related issues; specifically, Warrior trauma and resilience, behavioral health care of the wounded, and military families. While geared towards all uniformed behavioral health care providers, the training focuses on preparing behavioral health interns and residents with the skill set and confidence needed to successfully treat service members on deployment and in the garrison environment. David Riggs serves as Director and William Brim, a health psychologist with over 10 years of USAF experience, as Deputy Director. The Congress approved the mission of training military and civilian health care providers to work with service members, veterans, and their families around psychological health and traumatic brain injury related to deployment, emphasizing evidence-based training. Since 2007, CDP has trained over 20,000 mental health providers. It is estimated that there are 700,000+ service members or veterans experiencing psychological health or traumatic brain injury concerns (www.DeploymentPsych.org).
Health Care Reform: With the enactment of President Obama's landmarkPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act, our nation's health care environment is undergoing unprecedented change. Health care will become patient-centered, based upon gold standard protocols, and utilize the most up-to-date advances in the communications and technology world. No longer will practitioners (or educators) live in isolated professional silos. Instead, interdisciplinary, integrated care will be the norm with transdisciplinary scientific expertise readily available. Virtual 24/7 consultations with, for example, colleges of pharmacy will be possible.
The new law provides the States withconsiderable flexibility to craft the health care environment that works best for them. It is extremely important that our next generation be actively involved in the Georgia Psychological Association – to be at the table when decisions impacting their careers are made, as Katherine Nordal of the Practice Directorate elegantly describes. They will be practicing collaboratively with Doctors of Nursing Practice, Clinical Pharmacists, and Physical Therapists. Wellness, prevention, and primary care will become priorities – including for reimbursement. With care available for an additional 32+ million Americans for the first time in their lives, there will be renewed necessity for allowing each discipline to practice in expanded roles. Already there are 48 Nursing State Action Collations working to implement the Institute of Medicinerecommendations that nursing be allowed to practice to the full extent of their training and education and further, to achieve higher levels of training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. Historical anti-competitive restrictions must be overcome. With 251,000 advanced practice nurses (APNs), the health care world is definitely evolving. Change is always unsettling and yet provides exciting opportunities for those involved.
Prior to becoming the first non-physician and first female U.S. Army Surgeon General, Patty Horoho commented: "Maureen's [USAF Nurse Congressional Fellow] comments on the behavior health effort of the services to care for and build resiliency in our soldiers and their family members are right on target. Preserving the mental and physical well being of our service members is absolutely critical to improving resilience. The services have collectively initiated a number of programs that support behavior health issues in military and civilian personnel. Behavioral health care is one of my top priorities, and in my dual hatted role as Deputy Surgeon General and Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, I'm responsible for the health and well being of all soldiers, to include Army Nurses. Therefore in addition to Army initiatives, we've implemented a number of Corps initiatives and research studies focused on the care of the caregiver. I'm very pleased to share that the programs have had a very positive effect on improving and maintaining resiliency among Army Nurses. The Nurse Corps evaluates the health and resiliency of our caregivers in many ways. The Army Nursing Research Team is conducting research on compassion fatigue, nurse burnout, stress, hardiness, resilience and PTSD in military health care personnel (nurses, physicians, technicians, ancillary, and behavioral health) in Landstuhl Germany, San Antonio, and Bagram Afghanistan. The team is also collecting data examining post deployment reintegration of nurses. From the results of these studies, we anticipate the development of tools and training to ensure that Army Nurses remain mentally healthy and fit." These are, indeed, exciting times for our next generation.
Ode To Retirement: "As a LTJG in the U.S. Navy, I was being encouraged to stay in and probably reach the Admiral level, but even then I thought that life would get to be boring with shipboard drills and so forth. Hence, with a wife who did not want the Navy and enjoyed teaching and helping children to grow as much as I, I decided to return to a plan which she and I made for me to become a child psychologist. It seemed far more sensible to be able to practice in that capacity as long as I wanted. Even then, retirement was not an attractive option.
"Now, after 51 years as a practicing psychologist, I have again confronted the 'retirement' issue. I even announced to friends that I was 'about' to retire. Many were already retired, some for 25 years. I began to stop taking new patients and just planned to finish with those lingering cases that were also not ready to retire. Many were sailing, traveling, golfing, and/or writing books. Most of those things I had already done and they were blocked now by an aging body, and my ongoing enjoyment of working with patients. I found that giving up what I liked to do and felt proficient at was not as attractive as others had found it. So now, here I am, accepting a couple of new clients and enjoying it for now. You would think that I would give up the battle with hearing aids and 3rd party payors, but no. The challenge and good feeling is still there, so I am only semi-retired. Thus, I can keep doing what I like and still play golf and travel" [Jay Benedict]. Yes, psychology can be a very fulfilling life IF one is actively involved. Aloha,
Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Georgia Psychological Association – February, 2012
