Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 8. Source pages: 4.
Louisiana is Heading in Right Economic Direction Says Governor Edwards in July
Gov. Edwards praised the good news about the the state’s GDP on July 24, following the announcement from the Bureau of Economic Analysis that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew in the state of Louisiana for the first quarter of 2018 at a rate of 2.3 percent, faster than 35 other states.
Gov. Edwards said, “There is no doubt about it – Louisiana’s economy is steadily improving. For years, budget instability has threatened our state’s future, but those days are behind us. Today, more Louisianans are working than ever before, we have lowered taxes on the people of our state, and we are working to bring record economic development deals to Louisiana. This is not mission accomplished, but just one more positive indicator that we are headed in the right direction. It’s critically important for us all to continue to work together to foster an environment where Louisiana can reach its full potential. I’m committed to doing that, and to ensure that our state’s brightest days are ahead of us.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 8. Source pages: 7.
According to the online reporting for Louisiana Boards & Commissions, the Psychology Board is on track for 2018 spending totaling $290,063. This represents a substantial decrease from the expenditures in 2017 which came to $400,388.
The boards fund balance for 2018 is listed as a negative $346,800, representing spending from legal fees that had been mounting up for a number of years. The legal fees for 2018 are estimated to be $91,000 whereas in 2017 they were $149,774. Legal fees are projected for 2019 at $52,000.
To help with budgetary concerns, the board laid off the clerical assistant and expenditures for total salaries went from $166,417 in 2017 to a figure for this year which is estimated at $107,037.
The board is self-funded and the state report notes that the actual income from licenses for 2017 was $234,190. Projected 2018 income for license fees should be $259,645, and projected for year 2019 is $258,550.
The primary financial problems for the board have been in legal fees. In January 2017 the Times reported on the skyrocketing legal fees that related primarily to a contract attorney, Mr. James Raines, and the Complaints subcommittee. Mr. Raines had submitted invoices for $52,000 in a short period of time, perhaps as short as six weeks. Before that he had submitted invoices for $66,597 and the board still owed him $44,000. The totals were well over the contract which began at $15,000 and then was raised. In a June 2016 report, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor reported that the board was found to have inadequate controls, under the previous Executive Director.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 8. Source pages: 7.
Rules Noticed for Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Council and Nutritionists in July Louisiana Register
The Department of Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services, Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury (LAC 48:I.Chapter 19) published a “Notice of Intent” to create a new rule. “This proposed Rule amends language in order to align with statute changes to R.S. 46:2631 and R.S 46:2635 (A) approved in the 2018 Regular Legislative Session, ACT 424, and to codify current processes to ensure timely and efficient delivery of services to participants.”
The rule addresses several areas, including noting that the Department of Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS), will be responsible for administration of the Louisiana Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund.
The new rule will lay out conditions administrative reviews, “The administrative review is the first level appeal process used by individuals for a timely resolution of disagreements pertaining to eligibility decisions or a denial of services.” Also, “Advisory Board Review. In the event that a disputed decision is not resolved through the administrative review process, the individual may request a second level appeal before the advisory board.” Matters of Program Eligibility are also included: In order for an individual to be determined eligible for services, the individual must: meet the definition of spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, be a resident of the state and domiciled here, and have a reasonable expectation to achieve improvement, and other requirements. Limitations are set at $15,000 for a year and $50,000 for lifetime.
A public hearing on this proposed Rule is scheduled for Monday, August 27, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists are proposing to amend its current regulations.
For the section on Nutrition Counseling, definition includes psychological facts: “… therapeutic approach to treating medical conditions and their associated symptoms via the use of a specifically tailored diet devised and monitored by a licensed and/or registered dietitian/nutritionist. Nutrition counseling provides individualized guidance on appropriate food and nutrient intake for those with special metabolic needs, taking into consideration health, cultural, socioeconomic, functional and psychological facts from the nutrition assessment. Nutrition counseling may include advice to increase or decrease nutrients in the diet; to change the timing, size or composition of meals; to modify food textures; and in extreme instances, to change the route of administration.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
An alumnus who was inspired with a “thirst for knowledge” and helped to set new priorities in his life by Professor Gary Dohanich, has established the “Gary P. Dohanich Professor in Brain Sciences,” in the Tulane Brain Institute. Dr. Jill Daniel has been named the inaugural appointee for the position. Dr. Daniel is Professor in the Tulane Psychology Department and Director of the Neuroscience Program at Tulane.
Mr. Wayne Teetsel, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 1987 and an MBA in 1990 from Tulane, attributes Dr. Dohanich with inspiring him and helping him begin to take his education seriously, reported Kirby Messinger for Tulane News.
Gary Dohanich, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Tulane University. He is the co-founder of Tulane’s major and masters programs in Neuroscience, and is the current director of Tulane’s doctoral program in Neuroscience. Dohanich is the recipient of Tulane University’s highest teaching awards, including the 1996 Sheldon Hackney Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2007 Weiss Presidential Fellowship for Undergraduate Education, and the 2014 President's Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.
Teetsel said to Tulane News, “When I started at Tulane in 1983, I didn’t really take school that seriously. Every class was a chore,” he said. “It all changed after I met Dr. Dohanich. I realized that I had this really fantastic opportunity. I wanted to take advantage of the resources I had at my disposal.”
“By honoring Gary, I hope I’m showing that teaching matters – that students matter,” said Teetsel. “It’s not just about research and grants. That’s important but at the core it’s about education.”
According to Tulane News, Mr. Teetsel recently retired as a General Partner at Stonehill Capital Management, LLC, which is an advisor to Stonehill Institutional Partners L.P. and Stonehill Offshore Partners LLC, located in NYC. Both funds specialize in distressed and special situation investing and together manage approximately $3 billion in capital.
Dr. Dohanich has published over 65 research articles, scholarly reviews, and book chapters, and held grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. He regularly teaches courses in Stress and Trauma, Psychopharmacology, and Behavioral Endocrinology. His research has focused on the roles of gonadal and adrenal hormones as moderators of cognitive, affective, and reproductive functions, as well as the impact of biological sex on the development and expression of behavior.
The first appointee, Dr. Jill Daniel, is a founding director of the transdisciplinary Tulane Brain Institute, which was established in 2016 to coordinate and expand neuroscience research and education across all campuses of the university. Dr. Daniel is Professor in the Tulane Psychology Department.
“Gary taught me how to be a scientist,” Daniel said to Barri Bronson of Tulane News. “I owe so much of what I have accomplished in my career to his mentorship.”
Research from Daniel’s lab has contributed to the understanding of mechanisms by which estrogens and androgens impact areas of the brain that are vital to cognition.
“I’m intrigued by the fact that these hormones, the primary function of which is to control reproduction, exert powerful effects throughout the brain, including on areas involved in learning and memory,” Daniel said. “Our work aims to understand why and how this occurs.”
Daniel’s work is focused on the impact of estrogens and androgens on the brain and cognition across the lifespan, snf supported by awards from the National Institutes of Health.
Her and her team’s research aims to help understand the mechanisms of estrogens and androgens and how these impact areas of the brain, according to her website. Of special importance is the issues of cognition and memory. She and her group of master’s and doctoral students look at the impact of hormones on both the brain and cognitive function across the lifespan. Daniel publishes in journals such as Psychopharmacology, Hormones and Behavior, and Endocrinology. With her efforts, she hopes to guide understanding of how hormones help organize mammalian brains as male or female, and also what impact these have on the aging brain.
Drs. Jill Daniel and Edward Golob, researchers in neuroscience and faculty in the Tulane Psychology Department, had their work featured in the Tulane Magazine, “Brain Signals: The Mysteries of the Brain Lead Tulane Researchers Down Paths of Discovery.”
The “Gary P. Dohanich Professor in Brain Sciences,” has been created at Tulane for the Tulane Brain Institute. Dr. Jill Daniel has been named the inaugural appointee for the position. Above, Dr. Dohanich presents at a previous conference.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Fred E. Davis, PhD, died on June 30, 2018, following some months of declining health. He was age 80. Dr. Davis was a cherished colleague to many in the state and especially to those in the New Orleans area. He was known for his wit and sense of humor, his enjoyment of colleagues, his loyalty to psychology and standards of excellence, and his love of both teaching and learning.
“Anyone who knew Fred, knew he loved psychology, especially psychotherapy,” said Dr. Carolyn Weyand, New Orleans psychologist and psychoanalyst. “He loved learning, teaching, and practice. He was a member of the Crescent City Area Psychological Society (CCAPS) and a participant in our Depth Psychology Study Group. Although his health had become too challenging for him to continue practicing, he loved psychotherapy so much that discussing other's cases brought him much joy. Fred generously contributed from his wealth of wisdom, knowledge, and years of practice.” “Fred was an amazing guy and a wonderful psychologist,” said Dr. Michael Chafetz, who first met him in the 1970s at Tulane. “Fred was the consummate professional psychologist,” Chafetz said. “Later, as a professional psychologist, I found him to be always helpful to the next generation of psychologists, providing many insights.”
“He was vital, energetic, and compassionate,” said Chafetz. “I will miss him greatly.”
Dr. Fred Edward Davis was born December 15, 1937, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He joined the Army after high school and spent two years in Germany, where he traveled extensively and earned honors as a highly skilled marksman.
After his military service he entered the University of Texas at Austin and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in clinical psychology. This was followed by a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas.
After he settled in New Orleans in the 1970s, and was licensed to practice with Louisiana License #189, he worked in a variety of roles and positions.
He served as the Director of the Tulane University Counseling Center, a position he held for nearly a decade.
From the 70s to the 90s, Dr. Davis also served as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Tulane University School of Social Work, where he taught courses in the treatment of depression, statistics, research design, and supervised masters research projects and served as chair on doctoral dissertation committees.
“He was extremely popular with his students,” said wife Cynthia, “to the point that they had to limit enrollment in his classes so that other professors would have enough students in their courses.”
As a skilled researcher, Dr. Davis assisted numerous students with psychological concepts, research design of their doctoral projects, and in the writing of their dissertations.
“When the Tulane School of Social Work adopted a rule that only professors with Social Work degrees could teach at the school, Davis had to leave, which he regretted, explained Cynthia. “He absolutely loved teaching.”
Dr. Davis also worked in private practice at his firm, Davis and Associates, and was active in the firm for almost 40 years. During this time, he consulted at the Burdon Smith Psychiatric Clinic and DePaul Hospital. He provided counseling and psychological testing services for a wide variety of patients. He served as a consulting psychologist to the Tulane University Law Clinic, where he taught methods for interviewing clients and provided psychological services for cases. He also taught law students how and when to use experts in cases and role-played testimony in the trial practice program.
He was also called upon to serve as an expert witness in numerous court cases. His ability to take complex concepts and make them easily understandable was one of the many reasons students liked him and why attorneys and judges valued his input and testimony.
Dr. Davis served as the Psychological Consultant for Waterford III and Riverbend Nuclear Plants for Hillsman Psychiatric Associates, providing interviews, screenings, and MMPI data for thousands of candidates.
In 1997, Dr. Davis returned to graduate training at the University of New Orleans, where he obtained post graduate work in neuroanatomy and physiology, clinical neuropsychology, and ethics.
Davis was also an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, diving and boating, and a long-time New Orleans Saints fan and season ticket holder.
During his career, Dr. Davis served on the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, was a member of the Crescent City Area Society of Psychologists, and was a long-standing member of the Louisiana Psychological Association, where he participated in the committee on education and conventions.
“After Katrina, Dr. Davis sheltered himself and his practice,” in Baton Rouge at the office of Dr. Darlyne Nemeth and NCLA, said Dr. Nemeth. “Watching him cope and care for his patients was one of the highlights of my life,” she said. “He was truly a remarkable man and a gifted clinician. I will miss him.”
“It was my pleasure to serve on the Board of Examiners with Dr. Fred Davis in the eighties.,” Nemeth said. “He was always the consummate scientist-professional and a superb clinician, the perfect gentleman. But there was more. He had the ability to look beyond––to see the real person, to ask the unexpected question, which allowed the examinee to reveal his or her true self. In this day and age of technical competence, Dr. Davis' wisdom went beyond.”
“Fred was a model professional psychologist as well as a really nice person,” said Dr. Charles Burchell.
President of the Louisiana Psychological Association, Dr. Julie Nelson, worked with Dr. Davis in the Education Committee. “He always had the most clever and insightful one–liner to offer, especially during a dust-ups. He had a marvelous way of relieving tension and transcending a problem with humor. And he was firm when it came to principles,” she said. “We’ve lost a great colleague.”
“He was also the life of parties,” Michael Chafetz said, “always with good stories. I will miss him. I think he will be remembered very well by our community.”
A devoted family man, he is survived by his wife Cynthia Stewart Davis, his brother Louis Freeman Davis (Kathy), his two children Susan Davis Gryder (Edmond) and Richard Davis (Julia), and grandchildren Charles Gryder, Claudia Gryder and Jane Davis. Survivors also include his stepchildren Kristin Neelis (Robert), Brian Clark (Ana), and Jeremy Clark, and step-grandchildren Brianne Tully, Brendan Tully, Zowie Kemery, Jonathan Alfaro, Nathan Clark, and Ethan Clark.
Friends and relatives are holding a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans, Louisiana. Interment will be private with military honors.
[Editor’s Note: The Times staff wishes to thank family members for photos and comments for this article, and offer our most sincere condolences.]
Dr. Fred Davis, cherished colleague and consummate professional psychologist, passed away in June at the age of 80. Dr. Fred Davis with one of his grands. Dr. Fred Davis enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, diving and boating.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 8. Source pages: 13.
Gone Fishing– We never tire of Dr. Tom Stigall’s photography.
Antelope
Canyon Navajo land near
Page, Arizona
The dramatic formations in Antelope Canyon are due to the erosion of Navajo Sandstone. Over time, passageways have formed with deep corridors, flowing shapes, and mysterious light sources that create intense patches of illumination. Tom named the large photo, “Lightbeam from Above.”
“There are several places in the canyon where these occur when the sun is in just the right position,” Tom said. “ The landscape in this part of the country is spectacular and begs to be photographed.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Dr. Tammy Savoie, licensed psychologist and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, will be challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise in the 1st Congressional District of Louisiana come the November election.
Dr. Savoie, a psychologist with a doctoral degree from Emory and an MBA, has served 37 years in the military including 15 years in the Air National Guard and 22 years in the Air Force. She has served in the U.S., Japan, Afghanistan, and the U.K.
In 2016, she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and now provides mental health services to veterans and the Red Cross, and is an adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier. In late July the Uptown Messenger followed Savoie on the campaign trail and said that New Orleans Democrats rallied around her as the “first viable” challenger to Scalise.
“The difficult odds of upsetting U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise cannot be understated: the nationally- known Republican has never garnered less than two-thirds of the vote in his Congressional district,” reported the Messenger. “Nevertheless, Tammy Savoie is persisting. And, for the first time in what may be decades, Democrats in New Orleans believe they have found a candidate who can make the race for the seat competitive.”
“I think this is the first viable candidate in the 1st Congressional District in a long time,” said Bill Hammack to the Messenger. Hammack hosted a fundraiser for Savoie recently that filled the banquet room at Calcasieu in the Warehouse District.
Savoie’s supporters are energized by her background, a Jefferson Parish native with a PhD in psychology who served for decades in the Air Force. After retiring from the military in 2016, she turned down a job with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to return home to New Orleans, and join the Emerge class training women for prospective runs for office, reported the Messenger.
Savoie has an impressive background.
She grew up in Jefferson Parish, one of five children who learned the “value of service and perseverance,” from a merchant marine father and a homemaker mother.
In 1978 she was inspired to serve her country and enlisted in the Louisiana Air National Guard while she studied psychology at the University of New Orleans. She earned her PhD from Emory University and also an MBA from Touro College.
She served as the Chief, International Health in the Air Force Central Command, at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina from 2013 to 2016 before she retired and now is Adjunct Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier.
A single parent of a daughter, she was in active duty as an Air Force psychologist and treated service members and their families at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
She was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, and served as Chief of Psychological Services where she created drug abuse prevention programs rated "exceptional" by the U.S. Army.
She was Mental Health Flight Commander at Laughlin Air Force Base, and appointed Deputy Commander of the Air Force's research office in London, UK, where she led a team discovering scientific solutions.
In 2011, while stationed at the Pentagon, Dr. Savoie deployed to Afghanistan to improve mental health services for the troops. She then traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, providing medical planning and educational services.
Dr. Savoie has numerous awards and decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Organizational Excellence Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and NATO Medal.
She announced her candidacy on May 14 and has noted that she wants to "work across the aisle” to improve access to health care. She also noted that she wants to gather support for mothers and children, veterans, and improve the economy so that all families can benefit.
“Why am I doing this? Because I have to,” Savoie told the Uptown Messenger at the recent fundraising event. “If you are angry and worried about our country, you have to do something.”
Visit her website at https://www.tammysavoie.com/
Psychologist and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Tammy Savoie is running for Congress in the 1st District. (Courtesy photo.)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 8. Source pages: 2.
by Times publisher, J. Nelson I came to have goats on my front porch because of the Louisiana Psychological Association.
In 2016 I went against the advice of my journalism consultant and put my name in the hat for president of the Louisiana Psychological Association. My decision also went counter to a warning (threat?) from Archimedes, who turned out to be right about the stress (my president-elect year was a year from hell) and the workload, but wrong about the emotional rewards of working to help restore scientific psychology to itself. Archimedes and I have a bargaining type of social exchange for when we disagree, so he has taken his pound of flesh by turning our home into a small farm, part of his research into ecologically engineered, homesteading science, he claims. So, I had no choice but to bite back any objections when he brought home two, female, Saanen milk-goats.
Growing up in the rural south, I’d been exposed to goats. But, it never struck me before that because of their miraculous, four-chambered stomachs, goats can extract high levels of energy from what is not, in my view, actual food––bushes, trees, weeds, briars, and sticks. So for very little trouble, including the mostly benign pellets that come out the other end, these creatures produce milk (if someone wanted to milk them) and also do a commendable job of landscaping, tackling problems your yard man ignores because he can’t solve them on his riding lawnmower.
The system is building organically. Soon after Archimedes brought home the two goats, he decided he needed a livestock guardian dog and purchased a Maremma puppy. The puppy seemed lonely to him so he bought her a companion, a sister from the same litter. These two dogs have embraced their job of guarding the goats with enthusiasm, so Archimedes bought more goats for them to guard, and is planning on adding chickens. The animals (with the exception of the cat) happily trail around behind him as he walks around the yard, inspecting whatever it is that he inspects. All this gives the impression of a “farm,” and provides an excuse, albeit lame, for goats relaxing on my front porch.
An unexpected benefit of these gentle, friendly, and peaceful creatures is that they communicate a serenity that is contagious. Perhaps related to their eyes and rectangular pupils, the goals have a consistently innocent and thoughtful look to them. Coupled with their relaxed, leisurely movements, they appear not to have a care in the world. They sit and chew their cud, called “ruminating,” and it is oddly calming to watch them, and share in their meditation, if only for a moment or two, while the world rushes by in all its speed and fury.
Edward O. Wilson has said that the emotional apparatus for the home, “…came from one million years…” of hunter-gatherers life, “… an existence that depended on an intimate relationship to the natural world, and appreciation of all the natural world qualities, and love of the home…”
The Louisiana Psychological Association is bringing in another evolutionary giant, Robert Trivers, one of my favorite scientists of all time, to explain the complex theory behind the interplay of ethics and social traits. Considering both Professor Trivers and the milk goats on my porch, I just may have gotten the better end of the bargain with Archimedes.
[Julie Nelson is a licensed psychologist, journalist, and organizational consultant, and publisher of the Times. She also holds other various positions in the community. However, her opinions here are those of her own, and do not represent any group or association. She and the Times receive no compensation other than paid advertizing. Email her at drj@drjulienelson.com, ––she welcomes feedback.]
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 3.
In a June Press release the Governor announced, “Louisiana recently hit an important milestone: we no longer have the highest imprisonment rate in the nation,” said Gov. Edwards. “In addition, the reform measures now in place have resulted in fewer prison admissions for drug crimes, smaller probation and parole caseloads and enhanced training for officers, and millions of dollars in savings are now available for reinvestment in community programs designed to help offenders who have served their time learn a different way of life, one that will enable them to become productive members of society. While these results are early, they are promising and should give everyone hope that we are reforming our criminal justice system for the better when it comes to our citizens, communities and state.”
The Governor was joined by Dept. of Corrections Sec. Jimmy LeBlanc, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes and Judge Rusty Knight of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight Council.
The first annual JRI Performance Report released by the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE), demonstrates that the state is making progress toward reaching these goals.
The state is imprisoning fewer nonviolent offenders in costly prison beds: according to the preliminary data the prison population has declined by 7.6% as of March 31, driven by a
reduction in the number of people imprisoned for nonviolent offenses, which dropped by 20 percent, according to the announcement.
The state is also Increasing the use of alternatives to incarceration for less serious offenses: admissions to prison for drug offenses decreased by 3%, while probation intakes for this same group increased 13%.
Reducing sentence lengths for drug and property crimes (which have decreased by 10% and 4%, respectively) allowing the state to focus prison resources on violent offenders. "We are pleased with the direction Louisiana is headed,” said Sec. LeBlanc. “We’re thankful for the Governor’s leadership and commitment to changing what wasn’t working in Louisiana. While we are excited by the changes we are seeing, and the improvements, we understand the work is far from over. In fact, it has just begun.”
The report also notes that Louisiana is improving the effectiveness of community supervision by focusing on the first months of supervision, when people are at the greatest risk of reoffending, and giving probation and parole staff new tools for incentivizing compliance with supervision conditions. As a result, the most current data shows the community supervision population has dropped by eight (8) percent and the caseload has dropped from 143 to 129.
Numerous initiatives are helping the state clear away barriers to successful re-entry: the Louisiana Prisoner Reentry Initiative continues to aim at cutting the recidivism rate of the state’s higher-risk returning citizens by half, and Louisiana residents who have criminal convictions now face fewer barriers to obtaining occupational licenses because of the reform legislation.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 4.
The state medical board once again found itself in the hot seat over its investigatory processes, with Act 599 being passed into law in the 2018 Regular Session
The new law stipulates that the duration of any preliminary review of a licensee initiated in accordance with proposed law shall be no greater than 90 days unless extended by the board. The board, in conducting such a preliminary review, may obtain all files and records related to the complaint and to the complainant, and may obtain no more than 20 additional files or records in connection with the review unless authorized by the board.
Act 599 requires that prior to the board conducting any site visit or requesting medical records from an individual licensed by the board who is not subject to an active investigation, the executive director of the board shall request approval of the board through a duly adopted motion by two- thirds vote of the board, meeting in executive session, to conduct the site visit or records request.
And the law requires that prior to offering a consent order to a person licensed by the board, the board shall make available to the person all files and records which pertain to the case against him before the board, and which are not required by law to remain confidential or which are not otherwise privileged.
Proposed law requires that prior to offering a consent order to a person the board shall make available to the person all files and records which pertain to the case against him before the board, and which are not required by law to remain confidential or which are not otherwise privileged.
This is not the first pass for the Medical Board. They have been in front of the legislators several times now, beginning in 2015 when the Louisiana Medical Society worked to make key changes in the way the state medical board manages investigations, pushing for the Rules changes, including a limit on preliminary investigations to one, rather than three years.
Government affairs consultant and spokesperson for the Louisiana State Medical Society, Ms. Jennifer Marusak explained to the Times that the need for major changes came after years of complaints about how physicians were treated by the investigations staff at the state medical board.
“There were no limits, no structures, no definitions,” Marusak said. “A complaint of having a poor bedside manner could open up the door so that the investigators could go in and investigate everything in that physician’s office.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 5.
Act 207 by Representative Chaney amends the Children’s Code so to provide for additional means by which permitted and mandatory reporters may report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Dept. of Children and Family Services.
Present law provides that permitted reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect shall report such cases by phone through the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) designated child protection reporting hotline. The new law adds reporting in person at any DCFS child welfare office as a means for permitted reporters to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
The new law provides that mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect shall report such cases through the DCFS designated child protection reporting hotline, via the DCFS Mandated Reporter Portal online, or in person at any child welfare office.
The new law stipulates that making a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to DCFS by facsimile does not relieve the reporter of his duty to report in accordance with present law and proposed law.
Present law provides that if a mandatory reporter's initial report of suspected child abuse or neglect was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written report made within five days to the local child protection unit of DCFS. The new law revises present law to provide that if a mandatory reporter's initial report was in oral form, then it shall be followed by a written report made within five days via the online DCFS Mandated Reporter Portal or by mail to the DCFS centralized intake unit.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Senator John Milkovich’s SB 181 will make it unlawful for a physician to perform an abortion after 15 weeks gestational age.
According to the text, the new law will become effective upon final decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upholding the Act that originated as House Bill 1510 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, which decision would thereby provide the authority for a state within the jurisdiction of that court of appeals to restrict abortion past 15 weeks of gestational age.
New law provides that certain provisions are repealed in favor of the provisions of R.S. 40:1061 (health provisions: abortion), immediately upon and to the extent that the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the authority of states to prohibit elective abortions on demand or by the adoption of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would restore the state's authority to prohibit elective abortions.
The new law retains prior law stating that it is not unlawful for a physician to perform an abortion if physician terminates the pregnancy in order to preserve the life or health of the unborn
child or to remove a stillborn child, or for the express purpose of saving the life, preventing the permanent impairment of a life sustaining organ or organs, or to prevent a substantial risk of death of the mother.
Act 498, authored by Representative Frank Hoffman, revised present law for the prohibition on using public funding for abortion providers shall apply to state funds, federal funds, and any other public funds administered by the La. Department of Health (LDH) through a Medicaid provider agreement. The new law revises present law to prohibit LDH from entering into a Medicaid provider agreement with any healthcare provider, entity, or organization that performs abortions in this state.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 6.
Administrative Assistant Position – Ms. Monic requested, with the current financial status of the board being stable and with renewals approaching, that the board approve the expenditure of funds to hire a part-time secretary or part-time student worker for $12/hour to assist in the office during renewals. [The motion passed by unanimous vote.]
Executive Director Report – Ms. Monic reported that renewals will begin July 1, 2018 with approximately 798 licensed psychologists who will be eligible to renew. There are approximately 189 psychologists who are 65+ and may be eligible for a reduced fee if they are currently retired. Notices will go out the end of May 2018.
Complaints Committee: – Ms. Monic provided the following update: Within this Fiscal Year to date there have been 15 Requests for Investigation, 4 Requests for Investigation are pending review by a Complaints Coordinator, 3 matters have been closed, 8 cases are still open, 1 case remains open from 2016-17, 1 case remains open from 2015-16.
Boards Report – Dr. Griffin reported that he, Courtney Newton, Ms. Monic, and Dr. Henke would be presenting on behalf of the LSBEP, at the Louisiana Psychological Association on Saturday May 19, 2018.
Dr. Boggs reported that Kenneth Bell, a Board Member in Wyoming had contacted the LSBEP seeking information concerning Louisiana’s position on Psypact. Dr. Boggs reported that she shared the previously discussed position of the Board as not being in favor of the Psypact due to concerns that the La. Attorney General issued an opinion that compacts were not constitutional, that the LSBEP could not delegate authority to ASPPB, and that it would put additional requirements on states to regulate the actions of out-of-state psychologists without additional funding.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 8.
The Times received word just before press time, that Dr. Fred E. Davis passed away on June 30, 2018. He was age 80. He was a cherished colleague to many in the state but primarily to those in the New Orleans area.
Dr. Davis had served as director of the Tulane University counseling center for a decade and after that was in private practice in New Orleans and also served as a professor on the faculty of the Tulane School of Social Work. Dr. Davis also served on the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
He was a long standing member of the Louisiana Psychological Association and served on the continuing education committee.
Family and friends have set A Celebration of Life service for Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 2 PM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans. Interment will be private.
A memorial article is to follow.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 7. Source pages: 8.
The Louisiana Psychological Association has honored Dr. Kim VanGeffen for Distinguished Service at their recent convention. Dr. VanGeffen is a clinical and neuropsychologist, leader in the psychology community, and humanitarian in the New Orleans area where she resides. She has served the association as President Elect, President, and Past President during the 1990s and has also served for the last eight years. She currently served as Director on the LPA Executive Council and is Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee.
VanGeffen is also a past president of the New Orleans Neuropsychological Society and has served on the Women in Leadership Committee of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. She has worked in the New Orleans volunteer mental health community for the last 20 years, serving as Vice President, President, and Past President of VIA LINK, a nonprofit social service that serves ten parishes. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Thomas/McMahan Foundation in New Orleans, a nonprofit organization established in the memory of two New Orleans physicians who died of cancer.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.