C. Donald Williams MD CGP, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations Medical, Workers Compensation Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment, Psychiatric Disability Assessment, Occupational Psychiatric, Disability Rating, Fitness

Occupational Psychiatry--Independent Psychiatric Evaluations--Workers' Compensation

Organizational Consultation--Second Injury Fund Evaluations

C. Donald Williams MD CGP

Group Therapy Room

The Tower Building

Consultation Room

Occupational Psychiatry--Independent Psychiatric Evaluations--Workers' Compensation

Introduction

Google C. Donald Williams MD CGP to see a map and Google listing of my practice location and hours.

Yakima, Washington is a city of 80,000 in central Washington, with a regional population of 229,000.

The Yakima Valley used to be known primarily for its red delicious apples and hops, but within the past 10 years as apples have faced increasing competition from South America, New Zealand, and China, it has become known more as a significant world class wine producer (it is at about the same latitude as the Bordeaux region in France) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay varietal grapes, as well as some exceptional ice wines and other late harvest Rieslings. Many wines have earned high ratings in wine publications.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist, a board-eligible child psychiatrist, and a certified group psychotherapist. I provide the following services:

	Occupational Psychiatry, including the evaluation and treatment of patients with workplace injuries.
	Independent psychiatric evaluations (IME's) conducted both for plaintiff and defense attorneys, particularly within the Worker's Compensation arena, and also including personal injury evaluations. Objective psychological testing (MMPI-2) is performed on premises routinely. Neuropsychological or other specialist referrals are employed as needed.
	I perform IME's undertaken for Second Injury Fund purposes as they apply to worker's compensation pension responsibility determination in Washington State. Attorney references are available on request, as are redacted work samples, to professionals only.
	Group psychotherapy, including cognitively and analytically oriented individual psychotherapy groups for adults.

I offer Organizational Consultation, assisting public or private sector companies with up to 500 employees that are experiencing a business threatening crisis--either with a key employee or with the organization as a whole. The consultation begins with an assessment to formulate an understanding of the business crisis causes. Consultative interventions require the direct approval of the CEO and a direct report to the CEO and/or Board of Directors to be effective. Problems usually stem from elements of the corporate culture that sustain ineffective practices--for example problems with accountability, performance appraisal, and transparency.

Executive coaching designed to maximize leader effectiveness. Executive coaching focuses on improving leadership skills, drawing upon the existing strengths and talents of the individual, and developing strategies for improving leadership effectiveness.

The Academy of Occupational and Organizational Psychiatry (AOOP) brings together psychiatrists and other health care professionals and consultants who are interested in establishing relationships with colleagues in organizational psychiatry. Membership is available to psychiatrists with an interest in this specialty area. The March 15-16, 2008 meeting was held in at the University Club of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. Go to www.aoop.org for dates and information regarding the Chicago dates for 2011 at the University Club of Chicago.

We have moved to the 10th floor, Suite 1080, effective April 4, 2011; we are still at 402 E Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98901

Vision Statement

I authored a piece for the April-June 2011 AOOP Bulletin. It can be viewed here.

Mission Statement

My practice objective is to provide high quality professional psychiatric services to patients and other medical, legal, and insurance professionals. This includes:

	Same day return of phone calls to patients and other professionals
	Prompt refills of medications
	The discipline and commitment to provide complete reports of consultations to referring physicians and other professionals, as well as IME's within 5 business days of completion, utilizing on-site transcription services and voice recognition technology (complex cases with substantial file review may require more time)
	Continuous monitoring and review of treatment plans with patient participation
	The return of patients to health and function as efficiently and as safely as possible
	Contributing to the advance of professional knowledge through research, study, writing and the teaching of other professionals at professional meetings and conferences
	Utilization of quality professionals for consultation, referrals, and second opinions
	Treating all patients and professionals with consideration and respect

Media Matters related to disability

Williams C Donald. Disability and occupational assessment: objective diagnosis and quantitative impairment rating, HARV REV PSYCHIATRY 2010;18:336-352.

Abstract:

Industrial insurance originated in Europe in the 19^th century, and replaced the old system of negligence liability in the United States between 1910 and 1940. Today psychiatric disability assessments are performed by psychiatrists in the context of social security disability applications, workers’ compensation claims, private disability insurance claims management, and fitness for duty evaluations. There is a need for expertise in the performance of psychiatric disability evaluations but general psychiatric residency programs provide experience with only treatment evaluations which differ fundamentally from independent medical evaluations (IME’s) as to role boundaries and assessment focus. Psychiatrists offer opinions regarding psychiatric impairments, but the determination of disability is an administrative or judicial decision made administratively or by judicial tribunals. The distinction between diagnoses which are categorical and impairment ratings which are dimensional is discussed. Social Security Disability Evaluations (SSDI) and workers’ compensations evaluations are discussed. Inconsistency in impairment ratings has been problematic in the U.S. and elsewhere in the workers’ compensation arena. A protocol for more achieving more consistent impairment ratings is proposed correlating 3 commonly used global rating scales in a 3X5 grid, supplemented by objective psychological test data. (HARV REV PSYCHIATRY 2010;18:336-352.)

Williams C Donald and Schouten Ronald. "Assessment of occupational impairment and disability from depression," Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2008; 50:441-450.

Abstract:

Objective: Examination of the relationship of impairment to disability in the work psychiatry context and identification of practical strategies for occupational physicians to apply to screening, management, and appropriate referral. Methods: Medical literature review. Results: The determination and differentiation of impairment and disability is a complex psychiatric task which requires consideration of the type of employment, assessment of depression-related functional impairments that can create disability for a particular occupation, and individual factors. Conclusions: The authors propose a new and more consistent strategy for indentifying impairment severity and its impact on employment, including simples procedures to screen for depression and guidelines to minimize role and boundary confusion. (J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50:441-450)

Psychiatric Annals--Williams C Donald. "Psychiatric Disability Assessments," Psychiatric Annals. 2006; 36(11): 774-783. The article proposes guidelines regarding ethics and self monitoring in this specialized field of psychiatric practice. It also proposes an approach for correlating non-validated state worker's compensation "PPD" (permanent partial disability) ratings for mental health impairment with the validated GAF DSM IV rating scale, as well as the "classes of impairment due to mental and behavioral disorders" contained in the AMA Guide to improve the reliability and accuracy of such ratings. Examples from actual reports are presented. (contact me for reprint or access this copyrighted article through Psychiatric Annals online.)

Clinical Psychiatry News June, 2006 issue, coverage of the AOOP presentation on Organizational Consultation at the Chicago annual meeting.

The November 2006 issue of Psychiatric Annals (36:11) is devoted to Occupational and Organizational Psychiatry. Articles by Jeff Kahn, Julia Reade, Ron Schouten, and Don Williams are included in this issue.

AOOP Bulletin, Fall 2002 issue includes the article "Maintaining Objectivity and Consistency and Avoiding Pitfalls in IMEs". (.pdf file)

Clinical Psychiatry News June, 2002 issue, Vol. 30, No. 6 coverage of the AOOP presentation on Worker's Compensation IMEs.

Clinical Psychiatry News June, 2002 issue, Vol. 30, No. 6 coverage of the AOOP presentation on Social Security Disability Evaluations.

Mental Health affects productivity and the bottom line--Review this article from the Psychiatric News, May 17, 2002.

Social Security Disability Evaluations, July 2003, invited article in Psychiatric Times (.pdf).

"Professional Practices"--This article describes the professional work habits and practices common to successful Organizational and Occupational Psychiatrists. It appears in the April 2003 AOOP Bulletin. (.pdf file)

Are you a psychiatrist interested in performing psychiatric IMEs for worker's compensation cases? Practical suggestions for getting started, or expanding your practice occur in my article in the Fall 2001 AOOP Bulletin.

Disability information

	Preventing Needless Work Disability by Helping People Stay Employed--this document (in .PDF format) addresses how Worker's Compensation programs could be improved to promote injured worker health and functioning and also provide more effective medical care and improved claims management. This document was subsequently modified by the ACOEM board, and their version can be viewed on their website. I contributed to this report from the Stay at Work/Return to Work Committee. It is the product of more than two years of effort, and was spearheaded by Chairperson Jennifer Christian M.D., CEO of Webility Inc.
	Literature References related to Psychiatric Disability and Return to Work
	Click on the link to view the text of a July 2003 article in Psychiatric Times on Social Security Disability Evaluations.
	PowerPoint slide shows of the presentations of Social Security Disability Evaluations and Independent Medical Evaluations presented at the January 2005 Pre-Conference Workshop may be viewed by clicking on either link. A broadband connection will be helpful in speeding the download. They were prepared for the courses at the January 15-17, 2005 Annual meeting of AOOP.

News related to Pandemic influenza

Links

Government websites of interest

Website location of contact information to become a Consultative Examiner for Social Security with listings for all states--http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/procontacts.htm

Comprehensive report of Surgeon General of United States on Mental Health--This is a current comprehensive report on mental health and treatment and is an excellent reference.

Social Security Blue Book, now on line for easy reference.

Colleague websites of interest

Key People Resources--A Boston based consultative organization headed by Ron Schouten JD MD, Assoc. Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and former AOOP President--"KPRI is in the business of helping your business by supporting the organization and its most important assets to prepare for crises and respond to them. Our unique combination of medical intelligence services, behavioral health support, and organizational consultation skills allows us to help your organization manage the evolving challenges you face."

Morrison and Associates--An executive and organizational consultation firm with 25 years of experience providing multifaceted assessment and consultation to municipal, public, and private corporations, headquartered in the greater Chicago region. "We are a business consulting firm helping organizations to become more effective by Turning Resistance into Motivation into Performance."

WorkpsychCorp--A Manhattan and Scarsdale based consultation firm headed by former AOOP President Jeff Kahn MD.

Professional organizational websites

American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

American Group Psychotherapy Association

American Medical Association

Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry

American Psychiatric Association

Professional Practice Profile

Our staff includes C. Donald Williams, MD CGP; Sandra Gabel-Onkels, Executive Administrator; Jane Schaeffer, contract transcriptionist; Nancy Harding, office and psychotherapy assistant.

Contact Information

Telephone

509-457-4611 for scheduling and general information.

Scheduling is by appointment only.

Regular office telephone hours are Monday--Thursday, 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday 8:45 am to 12:30 p.m.; the office is open but calls are switched to the answering service Friday 2:00 pm to 6 p.m.

Messages can be left at 509-457-4611 with the answering service 24 hours per day.

Fax

509-454-3295

Postal address

402 E Yakima Ave, Suite 1080 Yakima, WA 98901 USA

Electronic Mail: cdonald@aol.com

Hit Counter