Message from the Chair, Linda J. Hartwell, Ph.D.

First, I would like to express my appreciation for the support, encouragement, and guidance that I have received from the past Board chairs and staff and executive director.  I wish to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Chair this coming year.

 

I have been impressed with the previous Chairs and have been ever since with their openness and willingness to engage in open dialogue and the mutual support for the differences of opinions and philosophies of other Board members.  I am also impressed with their mutual support for our various roles in protecting the public in Louisiana.  Although I have learned a lot with my involvement in the past four years, I have much more to learn.  I count on each and every one of the licensed psychologists in Louisiana to help me also try to meet your needs and protect you as well as a part of the Board's function.

 

In terms of sharing my vision for the Board under my chair ship, I have had the opportunity to participate in many activities.  I hope to have brought and continue to bring to the Board sensitivity to diversity and as a reminder of the common challenges of diversity with regard to the regulation of psychology around the state.

 

With the passage of prescriptive authority for psychologists in Louisiana, this has proven to be a challenging year for the committee drafting the rules for the Medical Psychologists Prescriptive Bill.  It has become clear that the Board will play a significant roll in the certification and monitoring of the issues with complaints and being the gatekeepers of in and out-of-state applicants for certification.  The Board will take a look at, along with the staff, to diligently develop a procedure to enhance ease of application and minimize feedback time.  We will work to use advances in technology to allow LSBEP to improve communications - with staff and licensees, consumers and with other professions, specifically pharmacy.

 

Since I believe communication and data are essential keys to an effective organization, the Board will make it self more available to the licensees and be more receptive to input.  Central to effectiveness is strategic planning.  With the passage of the Medical Psychologists Prescriptive bill, it has been highlighted that we must engage in a careful process to formally evaluate goals and objectives and establish time frames for implementation of the rules.  A well-developed strategic plan will provide clearer focus and increase effectiveness and efficiency.  And, communicate more clearly with out licensees.  These realities will affect components of licensure that determine competence and consumer protection.

 

I hope to foster, from the Board, approaches that will allow the Board to be perceived as one that supports consistency and insures consumer protection.  To effectively communicate from LSBEP's unique regulatory perspective and advocate for LSBEP to be included as a stakeholder in defining the future of the profession of psychology in the state of Louisiana.  Hopefully, the Board will be viewed as being supportive of and the most useful resource to licensees; to have needs met and to listen carefully to provide the best governance that is deserved.

 

I and the other Board Members welcome your feedback, comments, and suggestions.  Clearly, it will take time to reach some of these goals, however, it is my position to build on the foundation ably set by my predecessors and to strengthen the responsiveness and resilience of LSBEP as we adjust to the changing landscape of psychology and regulation in Louisiana.

 

Together we will be able to move forward and hopefully serve the public and the licensees.  You can reach me at joyhartwell@hotmail.com; 318-221-8411 ext 7105 and 318-458-9646.

 

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Two Opinions Revised by Board:

Opinion No. 002 - September 24, 1999 - Revised 7/16/04 - Clinical/Counseling Experience

 

Professional activities having a requisite number of years of clinical or counseling experience may include activities performed with the designated specialties of clinical, counseling, school, or clinical neuropsychology, however, such requisite experience shall not include internship or any other experience or activities prior to licensure.

 

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Opinion No. 011 - March 14, 2003 - Revised 9/10/2004 - Psychologists Ordering Medical Tests

 

Except for Medical Psychologists practicing under the provisions of R.S. 37:2371-2378, it is generally advisable for psychologists to avoid ordering medical tests.  This is particularly true if the psychologist is considered the primary caregiver.  If the psychologist is the primary caregiver and has reason to believe there is physical pathology, referral to a physician is generally the appropriate course of action.

 

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Certificate of Prescriptive Authority

Click here to read this article 

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A Joint Agreement Between The LA State Board of Examiners of Psychologists And the Louisiana Psychological Association

 

The following is a joint agreement between the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) and the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychology (LSBEP) on procedures for the election of nominees for membership on the LSBEP.  The purpose of the agreement is to set mutually acceptable policies and procedures for the efficient and equitable nomination and election of LSBEP candidates.  This agreement shall be in effect for twelve months from the date of signing by officers of the two organizations.

 

Introduction

 

1.   Under the provisions of Louisiana R.S 37:2353 the Louisiana Psychological Association is charged with conducting an election of all Louisiana licensed psychologists to create a list of LSBEP nominees.  The governor selects an individual from the list to fill the annual or other LSBEP vacancy.  LPA recognizes its responsibilities and obligations under the law and intends to fulfill them in a systematic, objective, and fair manner.

2.   Within LPA, the Nominations and Elections Committee is charged with conducting the election.  The chair of that committee is the immediate past president of LPA.  The membership of the committee is governed by the bylaws of LPA. 

3.   LSBEP has a manifest interest in insuring that the election process and subsequent appointments to LSBEP are conducted efficiently and fairly.  LSBEP is justly concerned about the efficiency and validity of the election process to ensure the competence and integrity of its members.  The objectives and values of LPA and LSBEP in this matter are entirely congruent.

 

Nominations

 

1.   In September of each year, LSBEP will supply LPA with mailing labels for all currently licensed psychologists.  In October, LPA shall mail to all duly licensed psychologists solicitations for self-nomination to the LSBEP.  The deadline for self-nomination will be will be thirty days from the date of the mailing.  The deadline will be prominently displayed on the solicitation form.

2.   A candidate for the LSBEP shall have rendered service, teaching, training, or research in psychology for at least five years, shall have held a doctoral degree in psychology from a school or college as defined in R.S. 37:2352(7) for a period of five years, and shall be licensed under R.S. 37:2356.  No other qualifications for self-nomination shall be made. 

3.   LSBEP and LPA agree that there should be a minimum of four self-nominations (candidates) on the subsequent ballot to provide the electorate with sufficient diversity of experience and viewpoints on relevant issues.  If four or more candidates are identified by the deadline, the nomination process will end.  If fewer than four candidates are identified by the deadline, the deadline will be extended automatically for thirty days from the date of the original deadline.  During that period, the Nominations and Elections Committee of LPA will actively and impartially solicit additional candidates.  LPA shall appeal to individual psychologists to self-nominate and shall approach state and local professional organizations to identify qualified nominees. 

4.   If at least two candidates have been identified by the end of the extended deadline, the nomination process will end.  If fewer than two candidates have been identified by the end of the extended deadline, the nominations process will continue indefinitely ending when at least two candidates have been identified.

5.   A Candidate shall not be permitted to run for a vacant seat, which they have immediately held and/or have immediately resigned from.

 

Election

 

1.   Within fifteen days from the close of nominations, ballots will be mailed to the electorate using current mailing labels supplied by LSBEP.  The ballots will be on a form without letterhead, and will not contain the name of any psychologist other than the candidates.  Candidates’ names will be listed in alphabetical order on the ballot.  Each voter will select one candidate only.  Ballots returned by first class mail postmarked no later than thirty days from the date of mailing, which deadline shall be prominently displayed on the ballot, will be considered valid.  No signature shall be required on the ballot or the mailing envelops.  No substitute ballots shall be provided.  Ballots shall be mailed to the LPA office where they will remain unopened until officially tallied. 

2.   To assist the electorate in making an informed choice, LPA shall request from each candidate a written, voluntary statement containing information relevant to his/her candidacy.  The Nominations and Elections Committee will prepare a standard form or format that may contain the following information.

a. Education and credentials

b. Professional activities and publications

c. Service to the profession

d. Service to the community

e. History of professional disciplinary action

f.  Statement of issues facing LSBEP and psychology

With his/her permission, the statement submitted by a candidate will be disseminated to the electorate by LPA by inclusion in the mailing of the election ballot and/or by other means.

3.   Neither LPA nor LSBEP shall formally endorse a candidate.  However, individual psychologists who are members of LSBEP and LPA are free to voice their preferences for a candidate so long as it is unmistakably clear that they are not speaking on behalf of the organizations of which they are members.

 

Selection

 

1.   LPA shall unseal and count the election ballots within thirty days of the deadline for receipt.  LPA will provide reasonable notification to LSBEP of the date, time, and place for the tallying of the ballots.  The tally is open to the public.

2.   LPA shall forward a list to the governor via certified mail or hand delivery of the two persons receiving the highest number of votes.  The list shall contain the actual number of votes obtained by each of the two candidates.  LPA shall simultaneously furnish the same information to the chair of LSBEP. 

 

Untimely Vacancies

 

1.   Should an unexpected vacancy occur on the LSBEP, LSBEP shall notify LPA within fifteen days of the vacancy.  If the un-expired term of the vacated position is 12 months or longer from the date of resignation or vacating of the office, LPA shall conduct a special election to fill the vacancy.

2.   Special elections shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures for annual elections with the following provisions and exceptions:

a.   LPA shall act expeditiously to conduct the special election.

b.   LSBEP shall provide mailing labels of licensed psychologists in a timely manner.

c.   The nomination process shall end as soon as two candidates have been identified so long as thirty days shall have elapsed from the date the nominations process was formally initiated by LPA.

d.   LPA shall expeditiously unseal and count the ballots of the special election and shall promptly forward the results to the governor for his/her action. 

3.    A Candidates shall not be permitted to run for two vacant seats simultaneously.

 

Dual Positions

 

LSBEP and LPA agree that it is not appropriate for an LSBEP member to be also a member of the governing body of LPA because of the potential conflict of interest created by the responsibilities of each organization.  LPA shall inform LSBEP if either of the two candidates whose names are submitted to the governor is a member of the governing body of LPA.  LSBEP shall in turn provide the information to the governor and shall inform him/her of the provisions of this joint agreement.

 

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New Board Appointments.........

 

On October 21, 2004, Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed John F. Bolter, Ph.D. to the Board to fill an unexpired term. Dr Bolter's term will expire on June 30, 2008.  He is a 1984 Clinical/Neuropsychology doctoral graduate from Memphis State University.  Dr. Bolter was licensed by the LSBEP on July 17, 1988 in Clinical Psychology.  In 1994, he was among the first group of 11 psychologists in the United States granted a specialty designation in neuropsychology legally recognized by a licensing board.

 

This is Dr. Bolter's second appointment to the LSBEP.  His first appointment came in 1993, when he was appointed for a two year term.  Currently, Dr. Bolter is a resident of Baton Rouge and is associated with The NeuroMedical Center.

 

Rebecca F. Nolan, Ph.D. was appointed to the Board by Governor Kathleen Blanco on October 5, 2004.  Dr. Nolan was appointed for a full term which will expire on June 30, 2009.  She is a resident of Shreveport, LA.

 

Dr. Nolan received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Texas A&M University in 1989.  She also received a postdoctoral master's degree in Clinical Psychopharmocology in 2002 from the California School of Professional Psychology.

 

Dr. Nolan Currently serves on the faculty of LSU-S, where she received the "Outstanding Faculty Member" award in May of 1999.  Since 1998 she has served as Member-at-Large for the Association of Louisiana Faculty Senates, and also during that same time has been a member and chair of the LSU School Psychology Training Committee.

 

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LSBEP 2005 Meeting Dates

January 21-22 - Shreveport

February 18th -  Baton Rouge

March 11th - Baton Rouge

April 29th - Baton Rouge

May 20th -  Baton Rouge

June 17th - Baton Rouge

July 29th - Baton Rouge

 

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