Article archive / August 1, 2010
Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 12. Source pages: 7.
Disability Determinations Services (DDS) is currently recruiting psychologists to conduct Consult- ative Examinations, Ms. Lashonda O’Conner, Professional Relations Officer for DDS, told the Times.
Ms. O’Conner said, “We are currently recruiting licensed psychologists statewide to perform consultative examinations for our agency. The psychologists who participate in our program are providing a great service to our agency and to our claimants by providing us with information which helps in the adjudication process.”
She noted that psychologists who provide this service give needed additional assistance to claimants in their geographical area. This is because some claimants have to travel long distances to get to an exam. If they have the opportunity to be evaluated by a psychologist nearby, it is of great help to them.
Some of the advantages to the psychologist for providing this service, noted Ms. O’Conner, are the competitive fee, minimal record keeping and the flexibility to perform as many or as few evaluations as desired. In addition, she pointed out that psychologists are not required to provide treatment nor are they required to make the decision as to whether the claimant is disabled. Reports can be conveniently faxed or sent electronically to a secure website.
Interested psychologists can contact Professional Relations Officers at one of the three Disability Determinations Offices in Louisiana: Baton Rouge – Lashonda O’Conner, 1-800-256-2288 x 4454 or lashonda.oconner@ssa.gov; Ta Sha Alford, 1-800-256-2288 x 3529 or tasha.alford@ssa.gov;
New Orleans – Earl Lennie, 1-800- 256-2299 x 5500 or earl.lennie@ssa.gov;
Shreveport – Geraldine Clemons, 1- 800-256-2266 x 6573 or geraldine.clemons@ssa.gov; Christina Ware, 1-800-256-2266 x 6454 or christina.ware@ssa.gov.
Dr. Jim Van Hook listens to Ms. Lashonda O’Conner (center) and Ms. Ta Sha Alford discuss DDS at LPA convention.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.