**PRACTICUM PROGRAM**

**I N C L I N I C A L A N D C O U N S E L I N G**

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#  *[HINES VA HOSPITAL]{.underline}*

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**VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION**

**PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE (116B)**

**EDWARD HINES JR. HOSPITAL**

**ROOSEVELT ROAD AND 5^TH^ AVENUE**

**HINES, IL 60141**

**[Practicum Training Program]{.underline}**

**Practicum Training Coordinator:**

**Kathleen O'Donnell, Ph.D.**

**Phone: (708) 202-2466**

**Email: kathleen.odonnell@va.gov**

**Program Assistant:**

**Brandon Leflore**

**Phone: (708) 202-2692**

**Email: Brandon.leflore@va.gov**

**Fax: (708) 202--2687**

**[HINES HOSPITAL]{.underline}**

Hines Hospital is one of the largest and most diversified medical and
surgical hospitals in the Department of Veterans Affairs system. The
hospital is a tertiary referral center with many specialty services
including some that serve a large U.S. regional area. Hines is
authorized to operate 600 hospital beds, and logged over 500,000
outpatient visits last year. The units and patient programs served by
Psychology Service include Primary Care, Blind Rehabilitation, Cardiac
Care, Drug Dependency Treatment Center, Dual Diagnosis, Extended Care
(Geriatric), Infectious Disease, Inpatient and Outpatient Psychiatry,
Intensive Care Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation, PTSD Clinic, Polytrauma/TBI program, Spinal Cord Injury
and Outpatient and Residential Substance Abuse.

As a VA hospital, Hines gives priority to the care of veterans whose
injuries or medical conditions were obtained while in the military
service of the United States. Hines is also authorized to serve all
veterans who have limited financial resources. A high proportion of our
patients are from ethnic minority groups, thereby enriching the cultural
atmosphere of the hospital.

The Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), and has affiliations with numerous
universities.

The Hospital and its academic affiliates conduct many symposia,
workshops and

consultant presentations on a broad range of topics from many health
care fields, and these in turn are available to trainees.

**[PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE]{.underline}**

The Psychology Service at Hines represents a health care model in
keeping with the ideal set forth by the American Psychological
Association, i.e., an independent clinical service directly responsible
to the Associate Chief of Staff for the Mental Health Service Line.

The Psychology Service is comprised of 20 doctoral-level psychologists
and one clerical staff person. The broad range of expertise, background
and experience represented in the staff is also reflected in the
diversity of their professional assignments throughout the Hospital.

Psychologists work in traditional psychiatric and rehabilitation
settings, as well as in neuropsychology, family therapy, and health
psychology specialties such as pain management, primary care, home-based
health care, oncology, heart disease, and HIV consultation.

**[PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:]{.underline}**

Hines VA Hospital offers an extended eleven-month practicum, with two
rotations from which to choose. The practicum at Hines VA Hospital
begins in early July and generally ends in late May. Practicum students
are expected to complete 700+ hours within this time frame. Furthermore,
students are expected to work at least 16 hours per week, with a typical
workday beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m.. Students will
work on one rotation for the entire year, although the
Neuropsychological Assessment and Neuropsychology Rehabilitation
rotation offers an opportunity to work in different sites and with
different patient populations.

During their practicum experience, students will be closely supervised
by a Ph.D.-level psychologist with a specialty in that particular area
of the rotation. Supervision is typically provided at least 2 hours per
week. Because Hines VA Hospital also has an APA-approved internship
program consisting of six intern slots, we are very familiar with
providing excellence in training. We are also excited to announce that
we have just been awarded a post-doctoral program with four specific
specialties. Toward this end, we stress education, supervision, and
training. Students are not treated as technicians. Practicum will allow
students to apply classroom theoryin a practical setting, to develop
greater confidence in their clinical skills, and to mature as
professional psychologists.

**[AVAILABLE PRACTICUM ROTATIONS]{.underline}**:

1.  **Neuropsychological Assessment and Neuropsychology Rehabilitation:
    a combined rotation involving 2 different sites** (please see the
    next section for a description of each site)**:**

-   Neuropsychological Assessment---Dr. Kathleen O'Donnell

-   Rehabilitation Neuropsychology/Psychology---Dr. Amanda Urban

2.  **Geriatrics and Rehabilitation --** Dr. Michael Blacconiere

**[DESCRIPTION OF PRACTICUM ROTATIONS]{.underline}**:

1.  **[NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND REHABILITATION
    NEUROPSYCHOLOGY.]{.underline} On this rotation, students will rotate
    between the two sites below and spend part of the year with each
    supervisor. This rotation is designed for an advanced practicum
    student and/or a student who has a strong interest in
    Neuropsychology.**

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A.  ***Neuropsychological Assessment.***

> ***Supervisor*: Kathleen O'Donnell, Ph.D.**

Description:

> Students will spend 2 days/week (16 hours) working as part of the
> Neuropsychology Consultation team with Dr. O'Donnell learning the
> clinical skills necessary to perform neuropsychological assessments.
> As part of this team, the student will gain experience with a broad
> range of neurocognitive disorders and neuropathological conditions.
> Students will become familiar with the flexible battery approach to
> neuropsychological assessment and will learn qualitative and
> quantitative assessment techniques which are designed to answer
> specific consultation questions. Trainees will be exposed to a
> consultant model, providing neuropsychology services to both an
> inpatient and outpatient population. Referral sources include
> Neurology, Psychiatry, General Medical and Surgical, and Psychology
> services. Consultations are utilized by a variety of medical
> disciplines, including physicians, psychologists, social workers,
> rehabilitation specialists, and nurses for diagnostic purposes, future
> management, rehabilitation, and/or determination of competency. Given
> that Hines VA Hospital is a large medical center devoted to training,
> students have an opportunity to attend various didactic presentations
> and seminars, including those held by Neurology and Psychiatry. For
> students who are interested, there may also be an opportunity to
> attend at least one brain cutting session conducted by Neurology and
> Pathology departments jointly. Opportunities to become familiar with
> CT, MRI, and SPECT reports are also available and allow the student to
> correlate neuropsychological findings with neuroanatomical
> dysfunction. Family contact is frequent, particularly with
> outpatients, and education/ supportive services are common. The
> student will be exposed to a wide variety of neurocognitive disorders,
> including but not limited to: dementias, strokes and vascular disease,
> traumatic brain injury, toxic/metabolic disorders, aphasias, amnestic
> syndromes, and psychiatric disturbances. Most of the patients are in
> their late 60\'s and70\'s, but ages may range from 18 to 95. Many
> patients are of a lower socioeconomic status and reflect a variety of
> racial and ethnic backgrounds. Students will receive a minimum of 2
> hours of supervision per week. Early in the rotation, the supervisor
> and student will see patients jointly, with the student working toward
> greater autonomy as their skill base increases.

Primary Goals:

> Students in the neuropsychology rotation will gain experience in the
> following skills and activities:
>
> 1\. Increased familiarity with the process-oriented approach to
> neuropsychology

2\. Exposure to a consultant model of interacting with other disciplines

3\. Exposure to and basic understanding of neuroanatomy

4.  Increased familiarity with a variety of neurocognitive

> disorders, including but not limited to: dementias, strokes and
> vascular disease, traumatic brain injury, toxic/metabolic disorders,
> aphasias, amnestic syndromes, and psychiatric disturbances.

5.  An in-depth understanding of cortical and subcortical dementias

6.  Learning to write clinically relevant reports

7.  Learning to administer, score, and evaluate a wide variety of

> neuropsychological instruments

8\. Increased ability to correlate neuropsychological findings with CT,

MRI, and SPECT reports

***B.*** ***Rehabilitation Neuropsychology/Psychology Rotation***

***Supervisor:* Amanda Urban, Ph.D.**

General Description:

> This rotation is designed for an advanced practicum student and/or a
> student who has a strong interest(s) in Neuropsychology,
> rehabilitation, and traumatic brain injury, or any combination
> thereof. Students will spend 2 days/week (16 hours) working as part of
> the Polytrauma and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation teams (PM&R)
> with Dr. Urban. This rotation is designed to provide both assessment
> and brief treatment opportunities.
>
> As part of the Polytrauma team, students will learn the clinical
> skills necessary to perform neuropsychological assessments with
> polytrauma patients, primarily those with known or suspected traumatic
> brain injuries (See Polytrauma Neuropsychology Description below). As
> part of the PM&R team, the student will learn the skills necessary to
> provide psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments to an
> inpatient rehabilitation population. Additionally, students will have
> the opportunity to learn and conduct brief individual
> psychotherapeutic interventions, as well as group psychotherapy to
> patients on the inpatient service. (See PM&R Description below).

Polytrauma Neuropsychology Description:

> Hines VA is a Level II Polytrauma Network Site dedicated to evaluating
> and treating individuals who have sustained multiple serious combat
> related injuries including traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue
> damage, auditory and vision impairments, amputations, as well as
> emotional or psychological difficulties (i.e., depression and PTSD).
> Patient population will mainly consist of newly returning
> soldiers/veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been involved in
> a blast, mortar attacks, or motor vehicle accidents. Patients
> represent a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Most of the
> patients are young (20\'s), but ages may vary (20-55). Students will
> learn how to work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team
> (Physiatrist, Social worker, Speech Therapist, Nursing, OT, PT, and
> KT). Primary duties will include providing neuropsychological
> assessments to polytrauma patients, followed by feedback to patients
> and family members regarding test results and recommendations.
> Opportunities to provide education regarding traumatic brain injury to
> patients, family members, and team members will also be available.

The practicum student will become familiar with the flexible battery
approach to

> neuropsychological assessment. Students will learn qualitative and
> quantitative assessment techniques. In addition, students will learn
> how to use assessment results to formulate practical and appropriate
> recommendations, specifically related to a patient\'s rehabilitation,
> placement, community reintegration and compensatory strategies.
> Students may attend a weekly multidisciplinary Polytrauma team meeting
> where results and recommendations from the neuropsychological
> evaluation will conveyed to team members. For those students who are
> interested, additional educational opportunities may be available,
> including Psychiatry and Neurology Seminars. Students will receive a
> minimum of 1 hour of formal supervision per week, as well as several
> informal or on the spot supervision opportunities. Early in the
> rotation, the supervisor and student will see patients jointly, with
> the student working toward greater autonomy as their skill base and
> confidence increases.

Primary Goals:

> Students in the Polytrauma Neuropsychology rotation will gain
> experience in the following skills and activities:
>
> 1\. Increased familiarity with the process-oriented approach to
> neuropsychology

2\. Learning to administer, score, and evaluate a wide variety of

> neuropsychological instruments.

3.  Exposure to and basic understanding of neuroanatomy.

4.  Increased familiarity with traumatic brain injury and the commonly
    associated cognitive and neurobehavioral sequelae associated with
    TBI.

5.  Exposure to a multidisciplinary treatment team approach.

6.  Learning to write comprehensive clinically relevant reports.

7.  Learning how to communicate assessment results and recommendations
    to different populations (i.e., staff, patients, family members).

8.  Increased ability to correlate neuropsychological findings with
    neuroimaging.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Description:

> The student will provide psychological and/or brief neuropsychological
> assessment to patients on the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
> service. On this ward, patients present with a variety of
> rehabilitation needs. Primary areas include orthopedic injuries,
> amputations, cardiac, stroke, chronic illness and head injury.
> Students will assess patients by clinical interview augmented with
> screening instruments which may include the Beck Depression Inventory,
> Beck Anxiety Inventory, Mini-Mental Status Exam, Repeatable Battery
> for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) as indicated.
> Certain patients may require more thorough neuropsychological
> assessment. Students will have the opportunity to attend team meetings
> and family conferences. Early on in the rotation, supervisor and
> student will see patients jointly, working towards greater
> independence throughout the year. Supervision will occur before and/or
> after a student's evaluation with a patient. Opportunities are
> available to conduct brief psychotherapeutic interventions with
> rehabilitation patients such as relaxation training, behavioral pain
> management, etc. An opportunity to conduct group therapy is also
> available.

Primary Goals:

> Students in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation practicum will
> gain experience in the following skills and activities:
>
> 1\. Diagnostic interviewing for personality and psychopathology with
> an emphasis on understanding how these aspects will impact the
> rehabilitation process.
>
> 2\. Administration, scoring and interpretation of selected screening
> instruments for cognitive impairment, emotional distress, and
> substance abuse.
>
> 3\. Writing psychological assessment and/or brief neuropsychological
> that incorporate rehabilitation goals with psychological functioning.
>
> 4\. Conducting brief treatment interventions.

5\. Working as part of a treatment team.

**2. [GERIATRICS AND REHABILITATION ]{.underline}**

***Supervisor*: Michael Blacconiere, Ph.D.**

Description:

> The student will provide assessment and some individual and possibly
> group psychotherapy to patients at the Extended Care Center. This
> facility encompasses three wards with a combined capacity of over 120
> patients. Many of the patients are in the geriatric age range, with
> frequent exceptions. Their needs include extended rehabilitation,
> long-term care, management/treatment of complex medical issues and
> palliative care. Patients at the Extended Care Center often have
> serious medical problems, such as amputation, cardiac difficulties,
> cancer, chronic illness, dementia or head injury.
>
> While at this facility, patients are referred for a variety of
> psychological needs. Such needs include depression, anxiety,
> adjustment disorders, substance abuse, other psychiatric disorders and
> hospice. Some patients may need encouragement with longer-term (a
> month or more) rehabilitation or assistance with behavior management
> issues. Most patients are assessed through interviews, although the
> Mini-Mental Status Exam and Cognistat are included as indicated. Other
> psychological instruments may be utilized on an as needed basis.
> Students are encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary staffing
> during this practicum. Individual supervision may occur before and/or
> after a student's interview with a patient. Course work in
> psychopathology and psychotherapy are strongly recommended, and a
> course in medical or health psychology would be a plus. The student in
> this environment will gain exposure to medical psychology in a medical
> setting.

Primary Goals:

> Students in the Geriatrics and Rehabilitation practicum will gain
> experience in the following skills and activities:
>
> 1\. Diagnostic interviewing for personality and psychopathology with
> an emphasis on understanding how these aspects may impact the
> patient's adjustment to illness and their rehabilitation process.
> Student will begin to integrate the five axes of the DSM-IV.
>
> 2\. Administration, scoring and interpretation of selected screening
> instruments for cognitive impairment.
>
> 3\. Writing reports regarding assessment and/or psychotherapy.
>
> 4\. Working as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
>
> 5\. Developing knowledge regarding further consultation to other
> disciplines or treatment modalities.
>
> 6\. Attendance at didactic sessions throughout the hospital.

**[DIRECTIONS]{.underline}**

**Hines Hospital is located in Chicago\'s western suburbs, at Fifth
Avenue and**

**Roosevelt Road, adjacent to the towns of Maywood and Broadview.**

**From the North or South:**

**Take 1-294 (Tri-State Tollway) - to 1-290 (Eisenhower Expressway).**

**East on 1-290 (Chicago) - to First Avenue exit (Exit #20).**

**Turn right (South) on First Avenue - to Roosevelt Road (Route 38).**

**Turn right (West) on Roosevelt - go to Fifth Avenue (the first stop
light).**

**Turn left to enter the Hines Hospital grounds.**

**From the Far Western suburbs:**

**Take 1-88 - to 1-290.**

**East on 1-290 - to Exit #20**

**Follow directions above from Exit #20.**

**From Downtown Chicago:**

**Take 1-290 (West) - to Exit #20**

**Turn left (South ) on First Avenue.**

**Follow directions above from Exit #20.**

**Visitor Parking is available in parking lots just East of Building 228
(Mental Health Building); also in front of Building 200 (main 15 story
hospital).**

**Please call in advance for directions once you enter the hospital
building.**

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