The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society’s 2025 Patient Safety and Risk
Management Conference, providing 7.5 hrs of category 1 CME held
virtually on November 8th, was a resounding success. It drew over 100
attendees and featured an impressive array of esteemed speakers,
including Gina Perez, MD; Mark Zacharia, Esq.; Benjamin Reynolds, MSPAS,
PAC, DFAAPA; Priya Gopalan, MD; Meredith Spada, MD, MEd; Rachel Kishton,
MD, MSHP; David D. Luxton, PhD, MS; and John Northrop, MD, PhD.
Attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with the experts
and ask probing questions. They demonstrated enthusiastic participation
throughout the conference, engaging actively with both speakers and
fellow professionals via thoughtful questions and vibrant chat
discussions. The interactive format fostered open exchange, with
participants eagerly drawing on their diverse experiences and expertise
to explore the complex issues discussed during the event. Lively
dialogue enriched each session, and various challenges were candidly
discussed and innovative solutions shared.
The first session was on Supervision of Advanced Practice
Practitioners and was led by Gina Perez, MD; Mark Zacharia, Esq.; and
Benjamin Reynolds, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA and offered a succinct roadmap
for supporting and supervising advanced practice providers (APPs) in
psychiatric settings. Presenters stressed ongoing assessment of caseload
appropriateness, careful recruitment procedures, and support for
credentialing and onboarding paperwork. The session highlighted the
resources and support available across the UPMC network. The subsequent
discussion focussed on practical challenges in forming supervisory
agreements with APPs and Pennsylvania specific legal issues and
day-to-day realities. Attendees discussed insurance coverage for
supervisors, independent contractor issues, credentialing standards,
frequency of review for agreements, and the importance of building
effective interprofessional teams. Concerns related to non-physician
providers being called psychiatrists, documentation requirements,
billing complexities, and a formal mentorship program for APPs were also
discussed.
The second presentation, delivered by Drs. Meredith Spada and Priya
Gopalan, focused on advancing perinatal psychiatric care through
evidence-based practices and specialized access programs. The session
emphasized the urgent need for enhanced expertise in perinatal mental
health and drew attention to the serious risks of untreated psychiatric
illness during pregnancy. Participants were encouraged to weigh the
risks of treatment discontinuation against those of untreated mental
illness and to utilize proactive interventions such as telephonic
perinatal psychiatry consultation programs (like Perinatal TiPS). There
was a robust discussion about referral pathways, useful resources for
perinatal mental health, available intensive outpatient programs,
education for patients about medication safety, and medication
usage.
The collaborative care session, presented by Dr. Rachel Kishton,
examined the growing importance and unique risks of the Collaborative
Care Model in psychiatric care delivery and emphasizing the critical
gaps in access to mental health care. Key components highlighted were
structured care management, use of validated rating scales,
evidence-based brief interventions, and panel-based psychiatric review.
She also detailed the complexities of risk management in Collaborative
Care Model, covering domains such as clinical appropriateness, financial
sustainability, and operational logistics. She underscored high barriers
to entry like challenges to related to insurance reimbursement while
affirming the model’s potential for improving outcomes through
interdisciplinary collaboration, proactive risk identification, and
rigorous quality assurance. Attendees also extensively discussed
implementation and reimbursement of the Collaborative Care Model,
especially the pros and cons of different billing approaches, the
relationship between care managers, primary care teams, and psychiatric
consultants, and advocacy for legislative support.
The session on mental health practice and artificial intelligence
presented by Dr. David D. Luxton provided a thought-provoking
exploration of AI’s rapidly expanding influence in behavioral health.
Dr. Luxton highlighted both the opportunities and pitfalls inherent in
AI adoption: while technology enables advances in clinical
decision-making, diagnostics, therapy, and administrative efficiency, it
also introduces new risks including privacy threats, algorithmic bias,
lack of transparency (“black box” problems), and questions of liability.
The session stressed the urgent need for regulation and establishing
professional competencies in AI use to ensure public safety, protect
patient rights, and maintain trust. Participants raised questions about
the limits and risks of AI in clinical care, expressing concern about
liability, hallucinations (false data generation), bias, privacy, and
whether chatbots might replace human therapists.
The final session was on Surrogate Decision Making, Guardianship and
Adult Protective Services (APS) and was presented by Dr. John Kent
Northrop. He provided a comprehensive overview of the legal and ethical
landscape in Pennsylvania for supporting adults with impaired capacity.
The presentation covered the evolution of APS law, mandatory and
permitted reporting responsibilities, common types of abuse, and the
expertise needed for effective support and investigation. Attendees also
learned nuances of surrogate decision-making, including limited and
plenary guardianships, healthcare representatives, and powers of
attorney. During the discussion, the audience focused on practical
navigation of guardianship and APS processes, including mandatory
reporting, limitations for incapacitated patients, use of assessment
tools, and challenges related to legal consent and unavailable
guardians. Attendees shared experiences with financial scams, medical
emergencies in self-neglect cases, and seeking expert advice on specific
scenarios such as consent for psychiatric hospitalization and ECT in
legally complex cases.
Attendees witnessed the heartfelt recognition of Dr. Ahmad Hameed for
receiving the Presidential Award from PaPS for his exemplary
contribution to psychiatry, clinical service and community advocacy. The
day also included an innovative poster presentation session, with awards
given for outstanding posters, rounding out a rich agenda that bridged
practical, legislative, and ethical dimensions of modern psychiatric
practices in today’s ever evolving behavioral health landscape.
About Dr. Chandra Rai
Dr. Chandra Rai Bio
Dr. Chandra Rai is currently a PGY4 Psychiatry resident at Tower
Health – Phoenixville Hospital. Originally from New Delhi, India, he
earned his medical degree from King George’s Medical University in India
and then completed his psychiatry residency at PGIMER and Dr. RML
Hospital in New Delhi. His interests include medical education and
forensic psychiatry. As PGY4 resident, he is on Senior Resident
Education Leadership Track where he is actively involved in teaching and
mentoring medical students during their Psychiatry clerkships. He plans
to pursue a career in academic psychiatry.