The role of clinical psychologist in modern healthcare system

The article analyses current understanding of clinical psychology as a field of professional activity of psychologists in medicine and public health. It reveals the main traditional and new areas of activity of a medical psychologist in clinical and preventive medicine. Main directions and forms of clinical psychologist’ work in healthcare system is reviewed. The role of clinical psychologist as part of a multidisciplinary team is outlined and the main models of multidisciplinary teams in the field of medical rehabilitation are analyzed. We identified the main problems and the goals in this area, which solution is necessary to create an effective system for the provision of medical, psychological and social assistance to the population. The article shows that clinical psychology plays a key role within the multidisciplinary approach to assistance of patients and their relatives in specialized psychiatric or addiction treatment, psychotherapy, as well as in general medical practice. One of the main tasks of clinical psychology is considered humanization and personalization of the entire process of medical care, protection from inconvenient impact of technization of medicine on patient and doctor, narrow specialization of health services. Some of the organizational and legal barriers hindering full integration of medical psychologist into the healthcare system and effective realization of the goals of medical and psychological activities were highlighted. The prospects for the development of clinical psychology in healthcare in the theoretical, methodological, substantive and organizational-legal aspects are determined. It is emphasized that in order to realize the potential of clinical psychology, constant improvement of theory and methodology, the development of effective medical and psychological technologies for diagnosis, correction, and rehabilitation are necessary. And at the same time, it is important to create organizational and legal conditions for the full cooperation of clinical psychologist with specialists in other areas.

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