In this column I would like to focus on the overall theme of the twenty-fifth anniversary, which we are celebrating this year, culminating at APA.
Our theme for the year and at the convention in particular is Health Care for the Whole Person, which means collaborative care. We all know that medical care needs to include psychological care. Internists and family practitioners will tell you that a great deal of their patients come to see them for issues that are life style or illness management. Not too long ago I had the opportunity to spend some time in an emergency room with a family member. Naturally, as a psychologist trained to do research, I started to listen to the reasons people were there. A car accident, a kitchen accident, residuals of violence, a child with asthma (it emerged that she had not taken her medication), breathing difficulty (a smoker) and chest pains were what I heard about. Never mind HIPAA, I heard it all. Which of these is medical and which life style and or a medication compliance issue? Hard to tell from the sketches, but one can speculate. I will bet this does not surprise any of us. Nor does it surprise any physician. Do I need to connect the dots? Clearly the mind/body connection is exquisitely demonstrated. Medical and psychological collaboration is important, before the emergency room. The confirmation of the function of psychological services in physical health care is something we have been talking about for years. But it has surfaced more in the public consciousness as of late. There are new CPT codes for health and behavioral assessment and for health and behavioral intervention services. The importance of mental as well as physical health care has been entered into the national consciousness through government reports as well. Surgeon General David Satcher released a report Mental health: a report of the Surgeon General (1999) in which a model of primary health care, possibly including metal health check ups and the integration of social, emotional and physical assessments, was recommended. Also recommended was a public education effort to combat stigma associated with mental health problems.

We all know this. But how do we do it in our own practices?

Health Care for the Whole Person will be the theme of the division 42 meetings at the convention in San Francisco. We all know of the importance of collaboration with physicians, but how does one do it? The sessions presented, which were developed out of a task force chaired by Jana Martin, president-elect of the division, will focus on the development of collaboration with different medical specialties, such as internists, gynecologists, and oncologists. Hands on mentoring of attendees will also be available in the hospitality suite after the more formal presentations. Look at the insert in the newsletter which will give you the times and place. I am excited by this program and hope to see many of you there.

I might add here that the theme of the practice directorate’s public education campaign this year is Mind/body, which dovetails well with our theme. For that information, go to the APA website, the members’ only page.

We are having a birthday party and we want you to come!

We will be celebrating our twenty-fifth anniversary as a division, highlighting our achievements and looking to our next 25. The business/membership meeting will highlight our achievements and will be followed by a great party! Please come!

• Join us for the activities
• Join us for reminiscences,
• Join us for interesting symposia,
• Join us for a book fair where members share their work
• Join us for sessions devoted to the future of our division and independent practice

Laura