It is frequently said that the primary role of a state medical regulatory board is to protect the public. Unfortunately, this concept has evolved in some regions suggesting there is a conflict between patients and their physicians.[1] In other words, the message can be sent that patients must be protected from physicians. Truly there haveRead More
Dr. Gregory Skipper Medical Director CONTACT As we have all been adjusting to the COVID pandemic and its limitations, I have been providing free video presentations for Physician Health Program staff in lieu of in-personal seminars. While this ongoing series is available and accessible, we have heard they can be difficult to locate soRead More
In 2001 the Joint Commission, with input from the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (PHPs), developed standards that require hospitals to have functions similar to what the state PHPs provide for state licensing bodies. These functions include: Education (about problems that can cause impairment, primarily substance use disorders), Early Intervention, Referral for Evaluation andRead More
During this time of social distancing, it seems appropriate to discuss remote (telephone) intervention. In 2011, we at the Alabama Physician Health Program, where I was then medical director, examined intervention outcomes over the previous 10 years. We found that of the 328 interventions that had been conducted, almost half, 161, were telephone interventions. InRead More
