Assistance in Dying: Examining Ethical Considerations

Until recently in psychiatry, assistance in death has been eschewed as essentially irrelevant: psychiatric illnesses are not “terminal,” and psychiatrists’ efforts are dedicated to preventing early death—not the opposite. Read more.

Laura Roberts, M.D., M.A., is the Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the psychiatry service for Stanford Hospital and Clinics. She is also editor-in-chief of APA Publishing and author of A Clinical Guide to Psychiatric Ethics. APA members may purchase the book at a discount.

IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference - Washington, D.C., October 6 to 8

It’s not too late to register for IPS and make your plans to come to D.C. and enjoy the colorful fall weather. While you’re at the meeting, make time to visit the Exhibit Hall to meet up with colleagues and exhibitors excited to share their products and services. The Connection Lounge will feature a Social Media Wall and free Wi-Fi and charging stations. The Exhibit Hall will be open starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 6. For more information, click here.

Put IPS at Your Fingertips

The IPS program schedule is now available on the APA Meetings App. Use the app to register for the meeting, plan your itinerary, and find travel and housing information. Download today by visiting psychiatry.org/app on your mobile device. Available at the apple store and google play.

Toolkit Will Help You Build Your Telepsychiatry Skills

How should practice guidelines influence your telepsychiatry practice? Alexander Von Hafften, M.D., discusses the role practice guidelines play in telepsychiatry practice in this part of APA’s telepsychiatry toolkit. The toolkit is an evolving resource for members who want to learn about the various aspects of telepsychiatry, including clinical, training, and policy considerations. See more videos on other telepsychiatry specifics from APA experts, as well as other telepsychiatry resources, on the online APA Telepsychiatry Toolkit. watch video.

Thinking about a Career Move? Check Out JobCentral

APA JobCentral is the career hub for psychiatry. View open positions, post a resume, or set up email job alerts. Visit jobcentral to view recently posted jobs, such as adult or child psychiatrist near San Francisco and multiple opportunities for a telepsychiatrist with InSight. Browse through hundreds of more job openings across the country and around the world.

Webcast Scheduled on 2015 Annual Quality and Resource Use Reports

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is making the 2015 Annual Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) available to all group practices and solo practitioners this month, including groups and solo practitioners who participated in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization model, or the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative in 2015. To provide an overview of the reports and how to interpret and use the information, CMS has scheduled a webcast for Thursday, September 29, at 1:30 p.m. ET. Additional call details and registration information is available on the MLN Connects website.

Nominations Sought for APA’s 2017 Election

All APA members are invited to submit nominations for APA’s 2017 election for the offices of president-elect and secretary. APA members in Areas 2 and 5 are invited to submit nominations for trustees in their respective Areas. Resident-fellow members are invited to submit nominations for resident-fellow member trustee-elect. Nominations should include the full name of the APA member and the corresponding office(s) for which the individual is being nominated and be submitted by October 1 to election@psych.org. More information about APA’s 2017 election is available here.

Nominations Invited for Presidential Component Appointments

APA President-elect Anita Everett, M.D., invites APA voting members to indicate their interest in serving on APA components. Members who are willing to share their expertise and make a significant time commitment to serve APA, the field of psychiatry, and patients through component service are asked to submit their names or nominate a colleague for consideration. Everett seeks APA members who represent the varied demographics of APA's member and patient populations and who bring the expertise necessary to implement component work. Please send the name of the component(s) along with a one-page description of the nominee’s background, experience, and qualifications to appointments@psych.org.

Actively Involved in Research on Schizophrenia?

The APA Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2017 Alexander Gralnick, M.D., Award for Research in Schizophrenia to be presented at IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference in October 2017. Named after the late Alexander Gralnick, M.D., the award acknowledges research achievements in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing early diagnosis and treatment and psychosocial aspects of the disease process. Additional preference will be given to researchers working in a psychiatric facility. For more information, click here. The deadline is September 29.

New 100% Club Benefits for Residency Programs

APA's 100% Club promotes a collaborative community of training programs throughout the United States and Canada. This year’s enhanced 100% Club benefits provide more day-to-day value. Check out the new 2016-2017 benefits and help your program earn this status! Want to know how close your program is to reaching 100% Club status? Email Claire Van Wagner at cvanwagner@psych.org. learn more.

Publications From APA

Psychiatric News
Payment for Important Work Gets Approved

Earlier this year, the AMA approved a set of CPT codes that allow primary care practices to bill for collaborative care. In addition, CMS recently announced that Medicare plans to begin coverage and reimbursement for “specific behavioral health services furnished using the Collaborative Care Model, which has demonstrated benefits in a variety of settings” as part of its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule starting in 2017. Jürgen Unützer, M.D., M.P.H., writes about these changes and their impact on improving mental health care in this month’s “Psychiatry and Integrated Care” column. Read more.


Psychiatric Services
Coordinating Addiction and General Medical Care: A Research Agenda

Better coordination of general medical and addiction care is an important goal, but there are important questions about the best way to integrate these care systems. At a recent meeting, leaders in addictions health services research identified four main areas of research to facilitate coordination of care, beginning with the basic question of how to identify substance use disorders in general medical settings. Other research topics include providing effective chronic disease management, incorporating patient and family perspectives in care coordination, and paying for coordinated care. Read more.

New Courses Added to SET for Success

The supplemental education and training (set) program helps residents and fellows build knowledge around the six ACGME core competencies and Psychiatry Milestones and learn about the business of medicine. Check out 60+ courses, FREE to residents and fellows!

AJP Residents' Journal

The September issue of the residents' journal includes commentaries that address patient-centered medical homes and implications for mental health, the role of psychiatrists in assisted dying, and assessing first-line pharmacotherapies for smoking. Visit the ajp residents' journal.

AJP Residents’ Journal Calls for Submissions

Editor-in-Chief Katherine S. Pier, M.D., invites residents to submit articles to the AJP Residents’ Journal. Journal formats include commentaries, letters to the editor, history of psychiatry, literature reviews, case reports, book and movie reviews, and global health. Having your article published in the journal is a great way to build your C.V. and share your work with peers. here's more information.

Submissions Also Welcome for Psychiatric News
Resident-Fellow Member Trustee Stella Cai, M.D., is the editor of the Residents’ Forum in Psychiatric News. These articles appear in the print version of the publication as well as online. If you are interested in writing an article but are not sure where to begin or have questions about format and word limit, please contact her at stellacai85@gmail.com.