Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions · Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions...
Transcript of Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions · Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions...
Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions
Barbara A. Van Horne, MBA, Ph.D. APA Convention August 2005
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Survey of ASPPB member boards of disciplinary complaints against psychologists and psychology licensing board actions from
1996-2001
37 jurisdictions responded tho data incomplete (61% of ASPPB Member Boards)
58 to 69% of all licenses in US & Canada
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Number of Complaints Filed
Complaints filed against approximately 2% of licenses
Given the wide variation in procedures for processing complaints, consistency is notable
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Complaint Data Year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Number of Complaints 1,752 1,677 1,614 1,653 1,917 1,809
Complaints as Percent of Licenses
2 2 2 2 2 2
Number of Investigated Complaints
980 1,213 750 955 1,339 1,262
Investigated Complaints as Percent of Total Complaints
56 72 46 58 70 70
Investigated Complaints as Percent of Licenses
1 1 1 1 2 2
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Screening of Complaints Number of Complaints 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
2001
No. of Viable
Complaints
980
1213
750
955
1330
1262
Viable Complaints as a % of
Total Complaints
56%
72%
46%
58%
70%
70%
Viable Complaints as a % of Licenses
1%
1%
1%
1%
2%
2%
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Actions Not Reported to DDS
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Number of Non-
Reportable Actions
164 192 127 143 159 183
Non-Reportable Actions as
% of Viable Complaints
13% 14% 13% 19% 13% 19%
Non-Reportable Actions as % of Total Complaints
9% 10% 8% 9% 9% 10%
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Disciplinary Actions Not Reported to ASPPB Disciplinary
Data System
Year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Number of Non-reportable Actions
183 159 143 127 192 164
Non-reportable Actions as Percent of Licenses 0.25 0.19 0.20 0.18 0.23 0.21
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Actions Reported to the ASPPB Disciplinary Data System
Year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
All Actions Reported to ASPPB DDS
214 194 208 208 154 165
All Reported Actions as Percent of Total Number of Licenses 0.195 0.162 0.204 0.167 0.124 0.132
*Total of number of licensees reported by ASPPB member jurisdictions in the Handbook of Licensing and Certification Requirements for Psychologists in North America (ASPPB, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000a, 2001).
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Disciplinary Actions Reported to the ASPPB Disciplinary Data System by
Member Boards
August 1983 - January 2005 Total = 3303 Total in Summary of top 10 = 2,762 Difference between Total and Summary
result of some jurisdictions not reporting reasons or the reason reported does not fall into one of Top 10 categories
2000 to 2005 = 768 reported actions
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REPORTED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS August 1983 - January 2005
Sexual/Dual Relationship with patient 842 30.49% Unprofessional/unethical/negligent prac 823 29.80% Conviction of crimes 252 9.12% Fraudulent acts 173 6.26% Improper/inadequate record keeping 148 5.36% Breach of confidentiality 124 4.49% Inadequate or improper supervision 121 4.38% Failure to comply with CE requirements 121 4.38% Impairment 108 3.91% Fraud in application for license 50 1.81% TOTAL 2,762 100%
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Recommendations
Adequate and accurate data collection is essential within jurisdictions and by ASPPB
More complete data on violations can inform on needed continuing education and/or training in preparation for licensure
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Recommendations Increase awareness and understanding of the
vulnerability to impairment, such as those by the APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance, further the goals of prevention and appropriate intervention
Opportunities for supervision, collaboration,
mentoring, and consultation reduce isolation and increase awareness Encourage
mentoring/collaboration/consultation Supervision, training, and CE influence
attention to ethical behavior