So in addition to our quarterly peer reviews (chart reviews) of a random psychologist, we are also required to create a 30 min. powerpoint presentation to a panel of select peers and our chief on a case of a veteran we are or previously treated. We have to include various elements according to accreditation standards, and then we have to answer questions. This is done so we can maintain our privileges at the hospital. It's BS and something I just found out last week. It's yet one more component that is driving me out of the VA.
I hear ya. The double/triple/quadruple standards (for oversight of clinical work) are ridiculous and this is just one further example of them. Let me guess...even though you all (mental health providers? psychologists?) are expected to chart MULTIPLE notes per encounter, sometimes as many as, like SEVEN notes for a single encounter (when you include progress notes, C-SSRS screener, (if C-SSRS is positive) CSRE, Suicide Safety Plan, MH 'Diagnostic Study' Note (PCL-5/PHQ-9), Mental Health 'Assignment/Re-assignment Note,' MH Treatment Plan (in Mental Health Suite [printed out in CPRS])...no other 'providers' (nurses, physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, etc., etc., etc.) have to adhere to such ridiculous documentation requirements.
And now you have to be subject to 'case presentations' to show that you're 'competent.' I mean, I'm not at all opposed to the concepts of continuous improvement and peer review but the double standards are ridiculous. Lemme guess, at your facility no physicians are having to do any of this crap to justify their competence in practicing medicine, right? How about physician assistant or nurse practitioners who are prescribing powerful and potentially-lethal psychotropic medication regimens including antipsychotic drugs? Do THEY have to demonstrate competence in this manner? Didn't think so. Nope. We gotta go after those mental health providers who are engaging in the obviously far more dangerous interventions like behavioral counseling and prescribing such risky G(osh) D(arned) interventions such as behavioral activation, sleep hygiene, motivational interviewing, encouraging exercise, self-monitoring, graduated exposure, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and cognitive re-appraisal. That S(hite) kills people if we just allow any doctoral-level, independently licensed provider with years of training and experience (who has also completed the 'credentialing' process every two years) dare to use them to treat clients and meet with them regularly (weekly/ bi-weekly) to monitor the results and engage in ongoing collaborative decision-making with these same veterans engaging in such obviously risky interventions with potential for catastrophic consequences.
Meanwhile, the NP down the hall can just throw around scripts (sometimes multiple) of anti-psychotics without having to 'justify' their treatment decisions or monitoring plans to anyone.
Unbelievable.
