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Corman Honored by Pennsylvania Psychological
Association
HARRISBURG -- The
Pennsylvania Psychological Association has awarded Senator Jake Corman
(R-Bellefonte) its 2004 Public Service Award.
At the Pennsylvania Psychological Awards Ceremony
held on Friday, June 18th, Sen. Corman was honored with the association’s 2004
Public Service Award for his visionary leadership in pursuing continuity of care
for the hospitalized patients of psychologists.
“This legislator’s efforts have helped to enhance
the psychological well being of all Pennsylvanians, and for this he richly
deserves this award,” said Thomas H. DeWall of the PA Psychological Association.
Corman’s Senate Bill 265, The Consumers’ Continuity
of Care Act, became Act 28 of 2003.
“Although a few organizations with an interest in
the status quo had been able to block this legislation for a decade, Senator
Corman was able to bring them to the bargaining table,” said DeWall. “By late in
2002, his dedicated efforts had resulted in a compromise.”
Sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman, the Consumers’
Continuity of Care Act would allow general hospitals to grant some clinical
privileges to psychologists in order to provide patients with continuity of
psychological care during a time of crisis in which a patient requires
hospitalization.
“Patients who are admitted to hospitals should be
allowed to be seen by their psychologists,” Corman said. “The patient and care
giver relationship is so important during a time of crisis and this legislation
seeks to protect that relationship and give needed comfort to the patient.”
Corman said his legislation, Act 28, permits, but
does not require hospitals to modify their bylaws to place psychologists on
their professional staff. Act 28 does not restrict or limit the ability of the
hospital to write its own bylaws.
“Sen.
Corman took the time to become very knowledgeable about this issue,” said DeWall.
“He understood that patients hospitalized with a psychological disorder need
continuity of care in their treatment, and he was willing to fight the archaic
rules that often prevented that from happening.”
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