THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030498
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
School Board candidate James P. Polk has earned three higher education degrees, served five years in the Air Force and established a private psychology practice, but he has had a few problems along the way.
A routine background check of all School Board candidates by The Virginian-Pilot revealed that Polk, a licensed clinical psychologist, has faced questions both by Air Force authorities and the Virginia Board of Medicine concerning irregularities in documenting patient contacts.
In May 1992, while on active duty with the 1st Medical Group at Langley's hospital, a hearing committee was convened to look into Polk's clinical practice there.
Although the committee found no evidence to justify eliminating his clinical privileges, those privileges were restricted and he was placed under one year of supervision.
At issue was what the Air Force termed ``inappropriate documentation of patient records.''
``They said that they couldn't understand my notes well enough for somebody else to come in and pick up where I left off,'' Polk said when questioned about the investigation.
But he admitted in subsequent interviews that the investigation involved more than inadequate notes.
Polk said the issue involved, in part, the number of patients attending weight-loss sessions that he conducted at Langley.
``The (non-commissioned officer who checked group members in) said that people I said showed up for the group didn't show,'' Polk said, adding that he had no explanation for the discrepancy.
The Virginian-Pilot filed a request April 11 under the Freedom of Information Act asking the Air Force to provide details of the Polk investigation. Two weeks later, the newspaper was notified that such information would not be available, if at all, until May 10, three days after the election.
Polk, who is running for a four-year, at-large seat on the School Board, this week volunteered some documentation he has of the Air Force panel's findings.
As a result of his problems at Langley, Polk was required to appear before an informal conference of the Virginia Board of Medicine after his honorable discharge from the Air Force.
That committee, which met in April 1995, concluded that he had violated a section of the Code of Virginia that deals with unprofessional conduct, according to a report released by the board.
Citing Polk's testimony that he had made a concerted effort to appropriately document all patient evaluations and treatment since leaving the Air Force, the board decided to not impose further sanctions.
``I've had reviews of my charts since then,'' Polk said, ``and there have been no discrepancies. Medicare did a review of all of my charting at (Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center) in about 1993 and found my neuropsychological testing some of the best they had ever seen.''
Polk now sees patients in his private practice, Virginia Beach Neuropsychological Center, and in three local psychiatric facilities - Colonial Hospital and Norfolk and Virginia Beach psychiatric centers.
He does not, however, see patients at Virginia Beach General Hospital.
``I applied for privileges several years ago and was turned down. I was never given a reason, and I never inquired,'' Polk said.
``Our policy prohibits discussion of our reason for refusing privileges,'' Virginia Beach General spokesperson DeeDee Becker said, ``but we do a very thorough check.''
A third issue that surfaced in the background check conducted on Polk involved his references to teaching experience.
A curriculum vitae, which Polk gave to a reporter who met with him in February, stated that he holds adjunct professorships at the College of William and Mary and California's Fielding Institute.
A spokesperson in William and Mary's psychology department said Polk was affiliated with the school during the 1992-93 school year, primarily as a supervisor of practicum students, but he was no longer an adjunct professor there.
When questioned about listing the William and Mary professorship as a current position, Polk indicated that he had only recently become aware that the appointment had expired.
``I found out that the adjunct professorship expired at the end of last year,'' Polk said. ``I thought it was still in place.''
The facts concerning the Fielding Institute are more complicated.
Ronald Giannitti, the school's dean of psychology, said Polk was never hired by that school. ``We did talk with him about the possibility of doing some training for us in the (Hampton Roads) area,'' Giannitti said, ``but we never contracted with him. That program is on hold.''
Polk, however, said a contract was negotiated. ``I know I signed paperwork with them,'' Polk insisted when asked about the discrepancy.
While Polk does not have a copy of any contract to back up his claims, he does have a curriculum he wrote for the class. He never had the chance to teach at the institute because not enough students enrolled in the program.
The Fielding Institute, described by a staff member as ``a 23-year-old distance learning school designed to meet the needs of mid-life, mid-career individuals,'' allows students to work individually with a mentor.
Giannitti said the school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and that its graduate level clinical psychology program is provisionally accredited by the American Psychological Association. MEMO: Staff writer Aleta Payne contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
James P. Polk has faced questions by Air Force authorities and the
Virginia Board of Medicine.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD
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