Closing Your Office but Not Your Practice 

Paul Berman, Ph.D., Richard Bloch, J.D., Colleen Byrne, Ph.D.

 This workshop was originally recorded on December 1, 2020

This webinar qualifies for one (1) continuing education credit in Ethics, Legal, and Risk Management.

Online via Zoom 

$20/MPA or MSPA members; $40/Non-members

As psychologists have made the transition to telehealth in the time of the coronavirus, and as the COVID crisis persists, some clinicians are considering giving up an office they are not using, or greatly reducing the amount of space they rent. We are offering this webinar to assist in this decision-making. Presenters will cover current issues in telehealth, ethical factors to consider in transitioning to all-telehealth, and practicalities of ending or renegotiating one's lease. Two member psychologists will reflect on how this transition is affecting their practices.

After attending this workshop, attendees will be able to:

  • Identify relevant Maryland law and regulations for the practice of telehealth
  • identify patients suitable for telehealth 
  • self-evaluate competence to conduct telehealth and communicate in ways that protect confidential information
  • Be able to discuss the enforceability of leases and approaches to terminate one's lease

In addition to our presenters, MPA President-Elect Linda McGhee, JD, Psy.D. and MPA member Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D. will discuss how they approached the decision to give up their office while keeping their practices thriving. 

REGISTER 

Paul C. Berman, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Towson Maryland. Dr. Berman's private practice includes Parent Coordination, child forensic evaluations, fitness to parent evaluations, and custody evaluations. Since September 1993, Dr. Berman has worked part-time for the Maryland Psychological Association as Professional Affairs Officer. He serves as a liaison between psychologists, managed care/insurance companies, State agencies, and other professional associations. Dr. Berman has presented numerous workshops for MPA as well as at APA and other associations nationally.

Richard Bloch, Esq., is a Partner with Shilling, Bloch & Hirsch, P.A. and has been in private practice in Maryland since 1972. He received his BA from the George Washington University and his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. His practice focuses primarily on health law, estate planning and administration, general business law, trade association law, and civil litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Maryland Bar Association, and the Baltimore County Bar Association. Mr. Bloch has been General Counsel to the Maryland Psychological Association since 1979.

Colleen Byrne, Ph.D. joined the UMCP faculty as the Psychology Clinic Director in 2001, where she oversees clinical training in psychotherapy and assessment for doctoral students in the clinical psychology program during their practica in the Psychology Clinic. She earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Emory University in 1998, completed internship at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida, and pursued postdoctoral training with children and adolescents at the Beyond Words Center for Social Skills Training in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2005, Dr. Byrne has served continuously on the Executive Committee for the Association of Psychology Training Clinics (APTC) including a term as President.  Dr. Byrne is an active member of the Maryland Psychological Association, serving 3 terms on the Educational Affairs Committee and 3 terms on the Ethics Committee.