Physician Substance Abuse and Recovery: What Does It Mean for Physicians-and Everyone Else?

摘要

The 10% to 15% prevalence of substance usedisorders among physicians is similar to that in the general population, but the quality and intensity of treatment given to physicians may far exceed that available to other individuals with these disorders. Recognition of the impaired physician began to emerge only in the 1970s and has led to the development of physician health programs (PHPs). These are now mature models, available in many states, usually through medical societies, as analternative to monitoring by state government boards of registration in medicine. In many cases, physicians who voluntarily contract with a PHP may remain anonymous to the state medical board and the National Practitioner Data Bank, a feature designed to promote early intervention in the disease process, ie, before patients are harmed. Many PHPs now offer services to other health professionals also.