Unique roles of the professional psychologist are outlined with respect to increasingly restrictive utilization practices of managed care. Suggestions of how to develop less traditional venues of practice, the types of instruments to use, and report formats, along with ways to persuade primary care physicians (PCPs), managed care organizations, and facilities to utilize psychological assessment services are provided. Medical cost offsets, cost-efficient quality of care, and models of practice are also discussed.

No abstract

Treatment planning sessions can be used successfully by multidisciplinary mental health teams to examine team functioning in various areas in a self-assessment model. Participation in a training program that included videotaping of sessions, consultation, and structured attention to team functioning was associated with improved ratings of team functioning.

Unique roles of the professional psychologist are outlined with respect to increasingly restrictive utilization practices of managed care. Suggestions of how to develop less traditional venues of practice, the types of instruments to use, and report formats, along with ways to persuade primary care physicians (PCPs), managed care organizations, and facilities to utilize psychological assessment services are provided. Medical cost offsets, cost-efficient quality of care, and models of practice are also discussed.

Two female athletes presented to clinic following a head injury and exhibited signs of concussion. Both athletes experienced exacerbation of symptoms secondary to dysautonomia related to concussion injury on the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT). On repeat evaluation, both athletes exhibited neck pain with symptoms immediately provoked by palpation of the occipital nerves. After a third occipital nerve block, both athletes had complete resolution of symptoms and subsequently tolerated BCTT to the maximum rate of perceived exertion with no provoked symptoms. The athletes were cleared for return to sport without issue. These cases indicate a potential limitation in the utility of the BCTT for determining the etiology and management of concussion and postconcussion syndrome.