Physician Health Programs (PHPs) – A Critical Look - Part 2
Does anybody know what these non-overseen, non-accountable impairment assessment entities do? Should that be a concern? PART 2: Wed, 3/15/23 @ 8pm EDT
Nudge, nudge – Part 2 of the webinar is tonight Wed, 3/15, 8pm EDT!
Pee Eightch Peas? Whuh???
Among the physician community, there is almost no awareness or understanding of the activities performed by the contracted Physician Health Program (PHP) and its frequent “recommendations” for extensive assessment and treatment at that board’s and PHP’s specially selected facilities.
This “don’t know what you don’t know” unawareness is something that catches many docs by surprise.
PHPs operate in the shadows of the MLB and under the appearance of state-authorized incontestability. Their mental health assessments and further work-up and treatment recommendations are treated as infallible. And backed by the MLB with which they may have the equivalent of an exclusive contract (in some cases statutorily established), the chances of prevailing in legally challenging these twin entities’ asserted authority are nearly nonexistent.
It’s precisely because so many physicians (and nurses, dentists, and veterinarians…) have such little understanding of PHPs’ roles in assessing mental health and substance abuse impairment and the career harms that can ensue can be so irreparable, that I and colleague Louise Andrew, MD, JD in conjunction with physician advocacy organization PJE (Physician Just Equity) are offering a free two-part webinar entitled “Physician Health Programs (PHPs): A Critical Look.” Part 2 happens live, Wednesday March 15th, at 8pm EDT. (Yes, free, and one registration gets you a seat for both.)
Register for “Physician Health Programs (PHPs): A Critical Look”.
(If you’ve already registered for the series, you should’ve gotten an email reminder. If not, be sure to check [sometimes they come from Zoom itself as the sender] and if still no find, just re-register.)
Both Dr. Andrew and I have each examined the PHP issue over a span of years (myself more than a decade) and have been increasingly critical of its rights encroachments in various postings in our separate domains. So be forewarned: this is not a PHP promo puff piece. It IS a critical look.
While we will stay as fact-based and observation-grounded as possible in our presentation, each of us having spoken at length with hundreds of physicians individually who’ve been involved with the PHP system, we do have increasingly urgent concerns about this non-overseen and non-accountable movement’s potential for irreparable harm to physicians’ careers.
Part 2 will include:
Getting clarity on the core nature of PHP services
PHPs and concerns re the policy - and nature of - drug testing
Costly multi-day (3-4 day) assessments
Privacy / Confidentiality issues
The ‘Safe Harbor’ Ruse
PHP impact on job / career
The critical importance of documentation, and what types
Legal & Regulatory Requirements, Principles, and Concerns
Licensee rights to challenge
And the necessity of becoming knowledgeable and proactive in compelling protection of one’s rights.
While the majority of physicians will never be ordered to be evaluated by a PHP, for those who are, the experience and ensuing cascade of career and life consequences can be more traumatic and costly than any potential impairment concern that was originally raised.
If you are, might in the future be, or have been involved with a PHP, or know someone who has or might be … you need to attend this.
It’s a lot of territory, at that on material you’ll not hear anywhere else. So don’t miss it!
This is a unique opportunity to learn about this chameleon creature, the PHP, one of the key elements of the Medical Regulatory Therapeutic Complex (MRTC), that previously invisible coalition that exercises life and death power over your career. (See prior article for link to our journal article explaining the MRTC.)
Again, here’s the link to register: http://bit.ly/pjephp2023
(One registration covers you for both webinars. But keep in mind, seats are limited.)
And p.s., this is an open webinar - free - so please forward this to all whom you think might benefit. But do it A S A P.
And … we’d welcome attendance from any who are involved in some capacity with the MRTC – those who sit on and staff medical boards; those who run PHPs; those who represent physicians as counsel; leaders of healthcare entities and Graduate Medical Education programs; and therapists and coaches who counsel physicians who’ve become involved in some way with PHPs.
In the event that either co-presenter says something that you believe is factually incorrect, no need to hire your favorite legal sniper. We would welcome hearing from you so that we might examine and respond to your concern.
And further, speaking for myself here, I would welcome hosting a podcast or webinar with any medical board, physician health program, organized medicine leader, professional license defense counsel or legislator. I’d be happy to have you as my guest on Physician Interrupted (this newsletter and podcast), and I’d gladly be a guest on yours should you have one.
Again, the link to register: http://bit.ly/pjephp2023
We look forward to having you join us.
FREE: Key Pointers checklist and replay links to registrants
There’ll be a free “key pointers” checklist to all who register, and registrants ONLY will have access to the replays. The above link will expire by 3/16/23, so if you want to get that checklist and the replays, register NOW.