Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association
Strategic Plan
2016-2019
Approved by Council on June 26, 2016
A strategic plan serves as a roadmap for an organization. It provides direction, clarity, priorities and
a framework for volunteer leadership and committees, as well as staff. It should guide the Council
and committees in achieving goals and allocating resources to best serve member interests.
Mission
The Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association is dedicated to promoting the highest quality care
for people with mental disorders and to serving the professional needs of Ohio’s psychiatric physicians.
Vision
All Ohioans will have universal access to quality psychiatric care and prevention
as a result of OPPA’s successful advocacy as the voice of Ohio’s psychiatric physicians.
Tagline
Psychiatrists United for Best Care
Values
Access
Advocacy
Diversity
Evidence-based/Highest standards
Inclusiveness
Integrated/Collaborative Care
Integrity/Ethical
Leadership
Learning
Patient focus
Transparency
Strategic Goals
Goal 1 ADVOCATE
Advocate for our patients and the profession.
Goal 2 ACCESS
Improve access to psychiatric services in private practice and in
the public mental health system.
Goal 3 ALLIANCES
Strengthen relationships with other physician specialties, family/consumer
groups, and other mental health organizations.
Goal 4 AWARENESS
Educate members, other health professionals and the public regarding
prevention and treatment of mental illness.
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
Page 1
SWOT Analysis (from 2009)
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Committed leadership and staff
Small organization relative to
population
Greater advocacy
Psychology prescribing
Collaboration with nonpsychiatrists
Economy
Patient advocacy
Membership apathy
Well-regarded DB
Lack of knowledge about OPPA
Increasing collaborations
Existing relationships
Often opposed/negative when
it comes to the legislator’s
perception
Viewed as having integrity
Lack of prioritization
Treatment
works/recovery/resiliency
Good lobbyists
Cross-fertilization of other
organizations by OPPA members
and staff
Limited staff
Identify/public perception as
MDs and DOs
Difficult to engage patients in
advocacy
To educate the public about
psychology prescribing
Ongoing Stigma:
Within the profession
Within the legislature
With patients/families
Rally and empower members to
increase mental health
awareness with the legislature
and the public
Insurance companies/managed
care
Integrate MH with other
physical health
Perception that psychiatrists
only prescribe medications
Turf war perceptions
Healthcare reform movement
Stigma
Insurance company barriers
Passed parity legislation (although
limited)
Lack of respect from other MDs
Limited OPPA resources
Economy (more cost effective
treatments)
Involving medical students
Using media “face of mental
illness”
Membership recruitment
Make parity legislation
meaningful – expand definition
to match federal
Broaden constituency
Focus on recovery/publicize
successes
Personalized statistics
Prevention
OPPA Committees:
Addiction & Pain Control (ahc)
Membership (sc)
Child & Adolescent (cc)
Nominating (sc)
Depression in Medical Trainees (ahc)
Practice Issues (cc)
Early Career Psychiatrists (sc)
Program & Continuing Education (sc)
Ethics (sc)
Public Information & Liaison (cc)
Executive Committee (sc)
Public Mental Health (cc)
Forensics (ahc)
Resident-Fellow (sc)
Government Relations (sc)
Telepsychiatry (ahc)
Integrated Care Committee (ahc)
Veterans & Military (ahc)
sc = standing
committee
cc = council
created committee
ahc = ad-hoc
committee
Every committee should have specific action steps to achieve one or more objectives/strategies of the strategic plan; otherwise the
President and Council must determine the continued value of the ad hoc and/or council created committees.
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
Page 2
Key Principles of Implementing a Strategic Plan
The following key principles must be made a priority if the strategic planning process and implementation of the
strategic plan are to be successful:
Goals = broad outcomes … these should inform all of our operations, provide a bit of a moral compass if
you will, and in essence reflect and define our “mission,” our purpose for existence; and our “vision,”
that future which we seek to create.
Strategic goals must be translated into objectives, strategies and action steps!
Objectives (what do we want to achieve?)
Objectives must be SMART= specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic and timely
Strategies (how will we go about achieving the Objectives?)
Action Steps (what specific tactics will be taken and by whom?)
Every official action of the organization should be considered relative to our strategic goals.
Each Committee should define its strategies and action steps in relation to the strategic goals.
Every Report for Information and Action Paper considered by Council should identify which strategic goal
it addresses.
Translating Strategic Goals into Objectives, Strategies and
Specific Action Steps
EXAMPLE
Objectives:
1. Improving Communications *
Strategies:
a. Increase social media presence
b. Post updates to FB and Twitter on a regular basis
c. Consider setting up closed FB groups for member
interaction
Action Steps:
1. Identify articles included on the website and/or newsletter than can also be
pushed out to the membership via FB posts and tweets (beginning July 1);
2. Review APA presentation on utilizing Social Media that was presented at the
May executive directors’ meeting; and
3. Remind members to like the OPPA FB Page and follow the OPPA on Twitter
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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GOAL 1
ADVOCATE – ADVOCATE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND THE PROFESSION.
Objective 1: Monitor and make recommendations for OPPA positions on mental
health related legislation
Strategies
a. Take position on
100% of bills
monitored by
OPPA and work
to advance the
position within
the state
legislature
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
1. Review all bills introduced to decide if OPPA will
take a position
Lobbyist, ED and GR Chair with input
from the following committees (when
relevant): A&PCI, C&A, ECP, F, IC, GR,
PI, PMH, RFM, T and V&M
Ongoing
2. Decide OPPA position
GR Committee makes recommendation
to Council or EC
Ongoing
3. Advance OPPA position (when appropriate)
through letters, legislative visits, testimony, etc.
In addition to lobbyist and ED, OPPA
Council to identify appropriate means
and people
Ongoing
4. Coordinate with other interested advocates as
appropriate
ED and/or Lobbyist to meet with
others as needed to identify mutual
positions
Ongoing
Objective 2: Increase participation of OPPA members in contacting legislators (e.g.,
Advocacy Day, letters, e-mails, calls, local visits, etc.)
a. Maintain and
expand upon
OPPA’s
Grassroots
Network (OPPA
members willing
to be proactive
with advocating
on behalf of the
OPPA for the
profession and
their patients)
1. Identify key legislators
Lobbyist
Ongoing
2. Make personal calls and contacts as needed to
key legislators
EC, ED, GR Chair
Ongoing
3. Conduct special advocacy training for RFMs
ED and OPPA leadership and members
(who know the physician, if possible)
Ongoing
4. Encourage and assist local chapters in hosting
legislative visits with local legislators
ED, Lobbyist
Ongoing
b. Improve
communication
with members so
that they can
develop and/or
strengthen their
relationship with
their legislators
1. Utilize communication vehicles to further expand
upon and educate OPPA’s Grassroots Advocacy
Network
EC, ED, and Lobbyist
Ongoing
2. Quarterly (at a minimum) remind Grassroots
Advocates to contact their legislators about
something (a key issue, a recently passed piece
of legislation to thank them, etc.)
ED, EC, and Lobbyist
Ongoing
3. Encourage OPPA members to meet with
legislators in their home offices whenever the
General Assembly is on break
ED, EC, and Lobbyist
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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Objective 3: Increase OPPAC participation
a. Increase
contributions by
members to 10%
of membership
b. Increase total
contributions to
greater than
$7,000 per year
c. Obtain
contribution by
100% of OPPA
Council and
Government
Relations
Committee
Members
1. Identify for membership the specific issues that
affect their career and practice
ED and the PAC board, other
committees as appropriate
Ongoing
2. Communicate those issues in straightforward
terms and with likely consequences
Newsletter editor, committee chairs,
Council and ED
Ongoing
3. Clearly ID for membership what money is used
for and purpose
Newsletter editor, committee chairs,
Council and ED
Ongoing
1. Examine electronic contributions
ED
Ongoing
2. Increase OPPAC board activity
PAC Chair and ED
Ongoing
3. Target Life Members for contribution as they no
longer pay membership dues
Membership Committee, ED and AA
Ongoing
1. Regularly remind Council and GR members to
contribute
OPPAC Chair
Ongoing
Objective 4: Foster membership development through both recruitment and
retention
Strategies
a. Achieve and
maintain
membership total
at greater than
1,000
b. Maintain RFM
membership at
75%+ and
increase ECP
membership to
125 (currently at
94)
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
1. Aggressively respond to the “call to action” to
“Save a member campaign” to keep members
from dropping their membership
ED/AA to work with membership
committee members, EC members,
Chapter presidents)
Jan of
each
year
2. Identify and aggressively reach out to former
members who qualify for amnesty
ED and AA
Ongoing
3. Contact chairs of psychiatry departments and
encourage them to create a culture that supports
OPPA membership
M Committee and Council members
working with department chairs and
training directors
Ongoing
4. Aggressively recruit psychiatrists in Ohio who
have never been members of the OPPA (or who
were once members but are no longer) to
become members
M Committee, EC, Chapter Councilors
and presidents
1. Identify incentives for RFMs and ECPs to join
OPPA
Council, EC, Membership Committee,
RFM Committee and ECP Committee
Ongoing
2. Assure that RFMs and ECPs have an active role in
the association (encourage membership on
committees and attendance with member
activities)
President, RFM Committee Chair and
ECP Committee Chair
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
Ongoing
Page 5
Objective 5: Encourage the enforcement of mental health parity in Ohio
a. Encourage the
enforcement of
mental health
parity
1. Discuss with state agencies (ODI) ways to
enforce mental health parity – working with APA,
when appropriate – as this is a top priority at the
national level also
ED, Lobbyist, President, Chair of GRC
Ongoing
Objective 6: Proactively oppose psychology prescribing efforts
a. Oppose
psychology
prescribing
efforts
1. Follow activity in other states and report to GR
Committee and Council regularly
Chair of GR, APA Reps and ED
Ongoing
2. Meet with key legislators to discuss the dangers
of unsafe prescribing
Lobbyist, ED, Chair of GR, President
Ongoing
3. Develop alliances with other organizations that
oppose psychology prescribing
ED, President and Lobbyist
Ongoing
4. Communicate reasons for opposition with media
when appropriate
President, ED
Ongoing
Objective 7: Eliminate practices/policies within the State Medical Board of Ohio that
discriminate against physicians with mental Illness and/or addiction disorders
a. Encourage SMBO
to eliminate
questions from
medical licensure
application that
are
discriminatory
b. Ensure that the
SMBO doesn’t
make changes to
the “one-bite”
policy that would
keep physicians
from seeking
treatment
1. Continue to work as a member of MAC (Medical
Associations Coalition) to advocate on both of
these issues
ED
Ongoing
2. Continue to meet with SMBO when appropriate
ED, President, Chair of GR
Ongoing
3. Work through physician members of the SMBO to
advocate on these issues
ED, President
Ongoing
1. Continue to work as a member of MAC (Medical
Associations Coalition) to advocate on both of
these issues
ED
Ongoing
2. Continue to meet with SMBO when appropriate
ED, President, Chairs of A&PC, and GR
Ongoing
3. Work through physician members of the SMBO to
advocate on these issues
ED, President
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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GOAL 2
ACCESS: IMPROVE ACCESS TO PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN THE PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS
Objective 1: Improve access to treatment in the PRIVATE mental health system
Strategies
a. Facilitate the
availability of
tele-psychiatry
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
1. Work with the State Medical Board of Ohio on
rules for telemedicine to facilitate the expansion
of tele-psychiatry
ED, Lobbyist, President
Ongoing
2. Continue to work with other physician specialty
organizations to further expand upon the use of
telemedicine/tele-psychiatry for patients with
mental illness and/or addiction disorders
ED, President, IC, C&A and T
Committees
Ongoing
3. Meet with third-party payors to encourage them
to reimburse for tele-psychiatry
ED, President
July ‘17
Ongoing
4. Encourage members to utilize tele-psychiatry
ED, President, Council
Aug ‘17
Ongoing
b. Improve HICs
(Health Insurance
Companies)
network
adequacy and
accuracy
1. Work with ODI to:
- Determine network adequacy of
psychiatrists
- Develop a formula to determine network
adequacy
- Ensure accuracy of panel directories
ED, President, EC
Aug ‘17
c. Improve
coordination of
care between
inpatient and
outpatient
psychiatrists
1. Work with the Ohio Hospital Association, medical
directors of inpatient units, mental health boards,
etc. to identify ways to improve the
communication in both directions
Practice Committee
Aug ‘17
d. Work toward
greater oversight
of HIC’s policies
and procedures
regarding
coverage
determinations of
health care
services (Council
action 10/08)
1. Communicate with ODI about enforcing policies,
ensuring parity in coverage determinations and
improving oversight
ED, EC
Ongoing
2. Work with other specialty organizations to
address accountability of HICs
ED, EC, Practice Committee members
Ongoing
3. Begin dialogue with key business organizations
(about enforcement of existing parity laws)
ED, Lobbyist, President
Aug ‘17
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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Objective 2: Foster integrative/collaborative care
a. Inform members
about
collaborative care
models
b. Work with others
to implement
models of
collaboration
1. Host speakers/workshops on collaborative care
(consider APA’s CMS Transforming Clinical
Practice Initiative (TCPI)
ED with input IC Committee chair and
members
2. Support the IC Committee’s efforts to gather and
disseminate information about existing integrated
care models in Ohio
Chair of IC Committee, ED, Council
1. Work with other physician specialty groups to
further telemedicine/tele-psychiatry
ED, President
2. Work with OHA to inform PCPs and implement
models of collaboration
ED, President
Ongoing
Ongoing
Sept ‘17
Objective 3: Improve access to treatment in the public mental health system
a. Facilitate the
availability of
tele-psychiatry
1. Work to ensure that SMBO policies facilitate (and
don’t create barriers) for tele-psychiatry
ED, Lobbyist, President, Chair of T
Committee
Ongoing
2. Encourage payors to reimburse for telepsychiatry
ED, President, Chair of T Committee
Aug ‘17
Ongoing
3. Encourage members to utilize tele-psychiatry
ED and leaders who utilize telepsychiatry
Ongoing
b. Improve
coordination of
care between
inpatient and
outpatient
psychiatrists
1. Work with OHA, medical directors of inpatient
units, mental health board and others to identify
ways to improve communications in both
directions
ED, President
Ongoing
c. Monitor and
provide feedback
on Medicaid’s
Behavioral Health
Redesign
1. Ensure member participation on appropriate BH
workgroups
ED, EC, Chair of PMH, Chair of IC
Committee
Ongoing
d. Monitor and
provide feedback
on the Office of
Health
Transformation’s
Value Based
Payment Models
as it relates to BH
episodes
1. Ensure members participation on appropriate
VBP workgroups
ED, EC, Council
‘Jun 17
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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GOAL 3
ALLIANCES: STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PHYSICIAN
SPECIALTIES, FAMILY/CONSUMER GROUPS AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH
ORGANIZATIONS
Objective 1: Strengthen relationships with other physician specialty groups
Strategies
a. Continue to
strengthen
relationship with
other medical
specialty groups
b. Develop closer
relationship with
OSMA
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
1. Meet regularly with primary care groups
ED, President
Ongoing
2. Meet, when appropriate, with other specialty
groups
ED, President
Ongoing
3. Develop cross-specialty working groups to
explore integrated care, depression in physicians,
and other initiatives that are timely and relevant
ED, President, Chair of IC Committee
Ongoing
4. Encourage PCP participation in our annual
meeting
ED, President, Council, Chairs of OPPA
Committees
Ongoing
1. Encourage OPPA members to become OSMA
members
OPPA Members who are Members of
OSMA
Ongoing
2. Encourage OPPA members to serve as delegates
to OSMA House of Delegates
OPPA Members who are Members of
OSMA
Ongoing
3. Encourage at least one member to serve on the
OSMA Focused Task Force on State Legislation
OPPA Members who are Members of
OSMA
Ongoing
4. Explore co-advocacy of telemedicine in
legislature
President, Chair of GR
Ongoing
Objective 2: Find common ground in advocating with other professional, family and
consumer organizations
Strategies
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
a. Work with the
Ohio
Psychological
Association on
Issues of Concern
to both
organizations
1. Develop an agenda of issues
EC, ED, PIC, PMHC
Jun ‘17
2. Meet regularly to provide united front
EC and President
Ongoing
b. Continue to
strengthen
relationship with
NAMI and its
local affiliates
1. Encourage each OPPA Chapter to identify
someone interested in serving on the State and
local NAMI Boards
Council and EC
Ongoing
c. Participate on
Boards and work
groups of other
multi-organization
groups
1. Continue participation in the following groups,
including CHC, Medicaid BH Redesign, CourtOrdered Outpatient Treatment Law Workgroup,
ODH BEACON, Ohio Minds Matter, OMHAS MH
Steering Committee, OAG TF on CJ and MI,
OMHAS NH Antipsychotic Workgroup
ED and/or identified OPPA members
Ongoing
2. Continue to identify additional groups with whom
the OPPA can work as appropriate
ED, Lobbyist, Council
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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GOAL 4
AWARENESS: EDUCATE MEMBERS, OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND
THE PUBLIC REGARDING PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL
ILLNESS, ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION
Objective 1: Design and implement CME Annual meeting to increase psychiatrists’
knowledge
Strategies
a. Design and
implement CME
Annual meeting
to increase
psychiatrists’
knowledge
Action Steps
1. Identify speakers and program by Sept. 30
Committee or Person Responsible?
Program Committee, ED and
Foundation
By When?
Ongoing
2. Inform members monthly
3. Consider topics that count toward re-certification
4. Obtain minimal attendance of 100 members
5. Encourage greater participation of PCPs
Objective 2: Design and implement programs to educate health care professionals
1. Identify committee members
President
May ‘16
2. Begin holding regular committee meetings
Chair of D&T Committee
June ‘16
3. Report to members at annual meeting
D&T Committee
May ‘17
b. Explore
depression in
physicians
1. Develop a multi-specialty work group
President
Mar ‘17
c. Collaborate with
other specialty
groups on mental
health topics for
their meetings
1. Collaborate with OSMA and other specialty
groups
President, ED
Ongoing
2. Encourage OPPA members to speak at low or no
cost
President, Council
Ongoing
3. Encourage OPPA members to speak at other
specialty grand rounds
ED, P Committee, Council
Ongoing
a. Develop an
ad-hoc committee
to examine
depression in
trainees
Objective 3: Design and implement programs to educate OPPA members
a. Explore
alternative ways
to communicate
b. Explore possible
workshops to
enhance
members’
knowledge
1. Consider refining quarterly newsletter Insight
Update and periodic electronic updates to
members, e-Insight Update
ED, Newsletter Editor
Oct ‘17
Ongoing
2. Identify members interested in developing a
social network presence and online
communication tools
EC and Newsletter Editor, RFM and
ECP
Sept ‘17
1. Consider integrated care workshops
EC, Council, IC Committee
June ‘17
2. Identify an EC member to attend a meeting of
each chapter
EC
Ongoing
3. Explore additional workshops based on needs
and request
ED, Council
Ongoing
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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Objective 4: Increase Public Mental Health Awareness
Strategies
a. Identify a
member in each
chapter area
interested in
being available to
the media
b. Encourage each
chapter to host a
depression
screening event
in October
Action Steps
Committee or Person Responsible?
By When?
1. Appoint interested members to serve on the
Public Information & Liaison Committee
President and PI&L Chair
Aug ‘17
2. Encourage members to write letters to the editor
when appropriate
President, Council, Members of PI&L
Committee
Ongoing
3. Encourage members to communicate with the
media in their chapter area and alert them as to
their availability
President, Council, Members of PI&L
Committee
Ongoing
1. Include articles in electronic and quarterly
newsletter (as well as social media) encouraging
chapter presidents/members to do so
ED, Newsletter Editor
Ongoing
Key to Committee or Person Responsible:
AA = Administrative Assistant
A&PCI = Addiction & Pain Control Issues Committee
C&A = Child & Adolescent Committee
DMT = Depression in Trainees Committee
ECP = Early Career Psychiatrists Committee
F = Forensics Committee
IC – Integrated Care Committee
ED = Executive Director
GR = Government Relations Committee
M = Membership Committee
NE = Newsletter Editor
PI = Practice Issues Committee
PCE = Program & Continuing Education Committee
PI&L = Public Information & Liaison Committee
PMH = Public Mental Health Committee
RFM = Resident-Fellow Member Committee
T = Tele-psychiatry Committee
V&M = Veterans & Military Committee
OPPA Strategic Plan 2016-2019
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