Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

September/October, 2001

Great Lakes Training Covers Variety of Topics
by Jane Bradley, Illinois DDS

THE GREAT LAKES REGION HELD a six-state conference on June 13-15, 2001 in Springfield IL. The conference was packed with a mound of information. Carolyn Simmons, Deputy Director from Chicago Regional office, updated us on issues on a regional level. NCDDD provided information on current concerns and direction. DDS directors participated in a panel discussion on the present and future of DDS from their perspective. NADE President Sue Heflin delivered a message on what NADE as an organization has accomplished and stressed the importance of being involved in the professional organization. Presentations included malingering, visual field testing, treating pediatric asthma, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia/schizo-affective disorder, the role of the mental health counselor in the treating of the mentally ill, vascular disease in the legs, and autism.

The presentation on malingering was given by Frank Froman, Ed.D. from Quincy IL. He had the audience laughing as he expounded on how one individual tried to bluff her way through the examination. The lady was asked how many is 14 plus 10? She answered it was 46. Dr. Froman replied that was a very good answer. This type of questioning and answering session went on for several more minutes, with Dr. Froman replying very good after each response that the lady gave, even if it was incorrect. He described how as time went on she became more and more puzzled as he continued to tell her how good she was doing. He said that he could tell it in the increasingly perplexed look on the lady’s face! Dr. Froman stated that by giving positive reinforcement with each response an individual gives, you are able to detect if they are telling the truth or not. He looks for changing facial features and fidgeting in the seat. Over time, malingering is easy to detect and these individuals are actually fun to interview. The regional fraud unit also presented an overview of their job and procedures for investigating Social Security fraud. They showed videos of an actual investigation and explained from beginning to end how an allegation of fraud is analyzed to determine if the allegation is legitimate. If the unit believes an investigation is warranted, a folder is set up and the team goes to work. It can be as simple as going out and confronting a beneficiary, and obtaining an immediate confession. Sometimes a lengthy investigation is required. The fraud unit has to observe and collect valuable information before confronting the individual. Criminal charges have resulted in some investigations.

The fraud unit has saved millions of dollars in the Social Security funds from being paid out to unscrupulous individuals. In other cases, they have been able to recoup millions of dollars from undeserving people. These cases take a lot of hard work from everyone involved in order to have a successful closure. The good news is they are making progress in the fight against fraud. Any cases that appear to be a possible fraud case should be reported. The unit is eager and motivated to have an impact on dishonest individuals that are taking funds they are not entitled to collect.

Breaks offered time to network with people across the region. We learned a lot about what other states were doing and how prototype was moving forward.

A gentleman from the Historic Preservation Agency for Illinois presented slides and an overview of historic sites in the area. He also provided a brief history of these sites and their historical importance.

It was an information packed , as well as enjoyable, conference. All who attended went away with their heads full of knowledge.