Support for RxP?

[PublicHealth]

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Opponents of psychologist RxP frequently conclude: "If psychologists want to prescribe, they should go to medical school." The following article suggests that medical school and residency may not be necessary to conduct a cardiac exam, and that cardiac exam skill may decline over time.
Support for RxP??

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/6/610

 

[50960]

I had read that before, but it really has no bearing on RxP. We learn how to use a steth, oto etc...., but are not going to be doing this in practice. RxP for psychologists will only work when there is cooperation and integration of psych and primary care.

 

[Psyclops]

I would be inclined to agree with you PsiSci.

PH, regarding your post, I've heard similar things about dermatologists. Their ability to diagnose malignant skin lesions is inversely related to the time since residency. I also heard about a new tool to teach med-students how to diagnose a heart murmur. It mimics the sound of a healthy and a heart with a murmur. Using this tool to train, non-med students are just as good as cardiologists, or something like that.

Something this makes me think about is the MMPI. Even though it is a multiple choice measure and spits out a computer report it shouldn't be interpreted by an untrained clinician.

 

[Pterion]

I had read that before, but it really has no bearing on RxP. We learn how to use a steth, oto etc...., but are not going to be doing this in practice. RxP for psychologists will only work when there is cooperation and integration of psych and primary care.

I think this also addresses competency and specialization. If you are in a specialty that (usually) does not include a cardiac exam, it is reasonable to expect your skills to decline rapidly. Primary care practitioners are not expected to identify all the myriad maladies in a cardiac exam. They are, however, expected to identify deviations from normal and refer accordingly.

The same principle applies exactly in psychology. I completed several classes and 18 mos worth of practica in child psychopathology. Today, it would be at minimum negligent if I did not refer a pediatric psychology patient to a competent specialist.

Short answer: Psisci is right. It neither hurts nor helps.