From traditional private practice to a broad range of institutional and organizational settings, psychological practice takes many forms. The passage of the Affordable Care Act has opened the door to a range of ways in which psychology is being integrated into health care to meet the needs of our society. Alternative practice models — such as accountable care organizations, health-care homes and an array of integrated-care practice models — are rapidly evolving and offering new opportunities for psychologists.
Technology, including telehealth and telepsychology services, online practice management and electronic health records, are changing the way many psychologists operate their practices. The growth of clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based practice models and quality reporting systems are shifting the way in which many psychologists think about psychological services.
And payment and policy developments related to diagnostic classification, billing codes and security requirements are leading to confusion and uncertainty for many of our colleagues.
These innovations in alternative practice models, technology and payment reform will serve as the bedrock for the future of psychological practice, so we are dedicating the 2015 State Leadership Conference (SLC) to practice innovation. The APA Practice Organization's 32nd annual advocacy conference, which will be held March 14–17, will bring together psychology leaders from across the United States and Canada to discuss how psychologists can harness innovation to improve the quality of their services. We will explore the tools practitioners need to carry psychology practice forward in these rapidly changing times.
Conference attendees will take these tools and ideas back to psychologists in their states to implement the changes that will be vital to the future of psychology. The May issue of Monitor on Psychology and APAPO's PracticeUpdate e-newsletter will feature conference highlights.
This year's SLC focus builds on our other efforts to keep practitioners aware of the marketplace and emerging trends. The fall 2014 issue of APAPO's award-winning Good Practice magazine, for example, was devoted to alternative practice models for psychologists. The content focused on helping practitioners prepare for the ongoing implementation of health-care reform and evaluate options for potential practice changes.
Professional, marketplace and regulatory developments in the evolving health-care landscape are encouraging more collaborative practices. Insurers, employers and consumers are demanding better provider performance through quality outcome and process measurements, patient satisfaction ratings and lowered cost of care. Federal and state regulations are pushing for integration through quality improvement programs and policies that allow integrated provider organizations to negotiate with health plans. Psychology can't afford to be left out at this crucial time.
At this year's SLC, we will tie together these innovations to provide psychology leaders with a blueprint of the practice, policy and technological innovations that are reshaping the way that many psychologists will work for years to come.
It is critical that we continue to define psychology's place both within and outside of the evolving health-care system. As a society, most of our major human support systems, from health care to education to human services and criminal justice, are beleaguered and under tremendous financial pressure. Psychology holds the promise of improved individual and societal functioning, but achieving the promise requires effective delivery systems for psychological services.
