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Biomedical subjects

P H DeLeon

Publications and source records attributed to P H DeLeon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Prescription privileges for psychologists.

As the profession of psychology has matured, serious interest has surfaced over the past decade in obtaining prescription privileges within the practitioner community. Other nonphysician disciplines have exercised this clinical responsibility for years, significantly improving their ability to comprehensively serve current and new populations. Efforts are underway to develop appropriate and viable training modules. The primary objection expressed by medicine is once again that our practitioners will become "public health hazards." Not surprisingly, resistance to change exists within psychology's training programs. However, the power to prescribe represents the authority to ensure that psychotropic medications are appropriately utilized, if used at all, and will ensure that psychology's practitioners can address society's pressing needs.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed1995

Health psychology and public policy: the political process.

During the past 20 years, psychologists have successfully modified federal statutes, resulting in recognition of the profession's clinical and research expertise. Despite these successes, professional psychology's training institutions have largely failed to address basic issues in health policy and the implications of national health policy for psychology. The importance of public health programs under Title VII of the Public Health Act and the significance of full inclusion of psychology in all federal health programs, including Titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid), are poorly understood by most health psychologists. Federal health policy decisions, including management of excessive federal health spending, will dictate the growth and opportunities for health psychologists. Understanding federal health spending and recent federal initiatives such as Resource Based Relative Value Scale, Diagnostic Related Groups, and practice guidelines will be of benefit to health psychologists.

Financing, Government↗
PubMed1994

Health care reform in the states.

Challenged by relentless increases in health care spending, state governments have been forced to experiment with health care system reform. Medicaid has been expanded by Congress, forcing states to provide a broader array of health benefits to more recipients. As states consider reform, federal limitations mandated by Medicaid and by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 on state activity pose significant obstacles. ERISA sharply limits a state's ability to raise revenue to fund these health programs. Several states have responded to these limitations by seeking waivers. Despite these obstacles, 8 states already have enacted comprehensive health reform measures, and virtually every state is considering legislative reform.

Health Care Reform↗
PubMed1994

A Head Start for the 21st century.

Social and economic conditions since the creation of Head Start in 1965 have worsened. The stresses of economic restructuring in America and the pervasiveness of violence have severely eroded the capacity of many families to provide safe and caring homes in strong communities. The necessary adaptation of Head Start to these new conditions involves the essential linkage of early childhood and family support approaches with community economic development. This strategy must include a reappraisal of mental health paradigms that will enable children, youth, and families to be healthy and productive members of their neighborhoods and country. Although public support for Head Start remains strong, considerable rethinking about a Head Start for the 21st century is now occurring; results will affect the quality of life for the entire society.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A new role for psychologists--hospital ethics committees.

Over the past decade psychology has begun to appreciate that it represents more than "merely mental health care" and has become increasingly involved in the generic health care arena. The participation of psychologists in Hospital Ethics Committees (HECs) is presented as a professional activity for which psychologists are particularly well suited. The clinical mission of HECs, the historical importance of ethical considerations to psychology, and the field's specific training and psycho-social expertise suggest valuable contributions that psychologists can make in this particular area. Further, as psychology actively increases its participation in HECs, other professional disciplines outside of the mental health field will systematically have the opportunity to become more familiar with psychology and its clinical and research expertise.

Committee Membership↗
PubMed1991

Prescription privileges. Psychology's next frontier?

In the past 5 years there has been a growing interest among psychology practitioners in obtaining prescription privileges, and relevant policy documents have reflected increasing support from the APA. The nonphysician health manpower literature has demonstrated that a wide range of professionals can be trained to prescribe medications competently, while maintaining quality of care; within federal agencies, psychologists have legally prescribed medications. Ongoing debates in Hawaii and in the U.S. Department of Defense may be laying the foundation for psychology's training and practice agenda for the 1990s. Were psychologists to have this clinical privilege, many societal needs--including addressing the longstanding problems of excessive medication of elderly persons and quality care for the chronically mentally ill and for persons residing in rural areas--could be met.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed1989

Rural America. Unique opportunities for health care delivery and health services research.

A general deterioration is occurring in the quality of life of rural Americans, and it is affecting the quality of health and mental health service delivery. About 24% of the U.S. population lives in nonmetropolitan areas where the citizens are older, less well educated, have lower incomes, and are more homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity. Medicare and private insurance discriminate against rural services in their reimbursement policies, and there is a shortage of health personnel in rural areas. However, there has been renewed congressional action to meet rural needs. Both the House and Senate have established rural caucuses, and an Office of Rural Health Policy has been established in the federal executive branch. Legislative successes were achieved between 1985 and 1988. Rural initiatives will provide psychology with unique opportunities in the next several years.

Delivery of Health Care↗