As states and counties begin lifting stay-at-home orders, many neuropsychologists are considering resuming their in-person clinical services. However, there is no clear roadmap to guide reopening and ensure patient and provider safety. Today we talk with Laura Lacritz, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, who is on the frontlines of returning to in-person neuropsychological evaluations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A pdf of the transcript for this episode is available here.
Topics Covered
- Address pros and cons of returning back to clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Discuss the responsibility of neuropsychologists to protect patients while providing important services
- Review safety precautions that neuropsychologists can take as they return to clinical practice
- Describe how to modify clinical practice to improve validity for mask wearing
- Compare how home telehealth visits differ from clinic telehealth visits
- Provide advice for neuropsychologists completing inpatient testing
- Discuss other PPE that can be used to address patient and provider safety
- Describe how neuropsychological assessment will change over the next few weeks
- Explain how to respond to a second surge of COVID-19 cases and modify practice accordingly
- List resources and outlets for up-to-date information on staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
About Laura
Dr. Lacritz is a board-certified neuropsychologist at UT Southwestern and a past president of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN). At UT Southwestern, she is a member of the Steering, Clinical Training, Admissions, and Competency Committees in the graduate Clinical Psychology program. She is also involved in the teaching and training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at UT Southwestern. Her clinical expertise include neuropsychological assessment of individuals who have dementia, epilepsy, movement disorders, brain tumors, and head injury. Her research interests include Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, movement disorders, epilepsy, and psychometric assessment.
Select Resources
Inter-Organizational Practice Committee (IOPC) Teleneuropsychology Resources
IOPC Guidance/Recommendation for Models of Care
American Psychological Association COVID-19 Resources
American Medical Academy COVID-19 Resource Center