Physician Impairment and Counseling

Members of the Medical Staff who exhibit a physical or behavioral impairment such as alcoholism, drug abuse, or a mental or emotional problem which may affect their skill, attitude or judgment, may refer themselves on a voluntary basis to the Professional Assistance Committee (PAC) and/or the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) for an assessment and possible treatment. The policies and procedures of the PAC and FASAP shall guide the management of these voluntary referrals.

The PAC and FASAP may be used either for voluntary referrals or for involuntary referrals in addition to, or as an alternative to, disciplinary action.

The duties and responsibilities of the PAC are as follows:

1. Develop through training and education of Medical Staff members an enhanced recognition of impairment and an awareness of conditions that may lead to impairment.
2. Assist Medical Staff in dealing with any physical and/or behavioral impairments that may affect a staff member’s skill, attitude or judgement.
3. Receive information and/or complaints concerning physicians who may be disabled, impaired, or distressed, and investigate the information and/or complaint.
4. Evaluate individual cases and make recommendations for action, including treatment and monitoring.
5. Communicate with Hospital Administration or other appropriate official bodies when necessary to ensure quality of patient care and staff well being.

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) is available to house staff and their immediate families. Services include identification, assessment and diagnosis of personal problems, referral to appropriate service or treatment resources, follow-up on referrals, education, consultation and training on issues relevant to personal problems and prevention programs.

A physician, in accepting appointment or reappointment to the Medical Staff agrees to immediate testing of blood and/or urine for controlled substances and/or alcohol upon appropriate request.  An appropriate request is based upon suspicion of disability and/or impairment from alcohol and/or drug abuse and may be made by a Chief of Service, his designated representative(s) or the Vice President for Medical Affairs. Medical Staff members who suspect another Medical Staff member of have a disability and/or impairment have a responsibility to notify immediately the appropriate Chief of Service, his designated representative(s), the Professional Assistance Committee or the Vice President for Medical Affairs of their concerns.

Any physician who refuses such testing will be treated administratively as though testing positive for alcohol and/or controlled substances. Administrative procedures to be followed in such instances will be those defined for the involuntary detection of the disabled or impaired physician.

Mandatory periodic drug and/or alcohol testing shall be required of a physician identified as impaired and/or disabled from drug and/or alcohol abuse disorder as part of ongoing treatment and monitoring of recovery as defined by procedures for the care, treatment and monitoring of the disabled/impaired physician.