42: Impaired Physician - Mahoney

Question 1

physical disability v. mental disability

Answer 1

physical: includes but is not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, or loss of motor skill that results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill or safety
mental: psychological condition or habitual or excessive use of alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or other chemical agents or drug that results in the inability to practice podiatric medicine with reasonable judgment, skill or safety

Question 2

impairment is the end of a ______

Answer 2

stress continuum

normal -> increased stress –> burnout –> impairment

Question 3

define addiction

Answer 3

stess-induced defect in brain’s ability to properly perceive pleasure

Question 4

_____ all physicians experience a period during which they have a condition that impairs their ability to practice

Answer 4

one third

Question 5

_____ of US physicians experience burnout

Answer 5

46%

more female than male
more generalists than specialists

burnout = emotional exhaustion, decreased personal achievement, and depersonalization that included cynical or negative attitudes toward pts

Question 6

purpose (4) of physician health programs

Answer 6

• identify impaired physicians
• evaluate, treat, and monitor
• protect the public from impaired physicians
• help the impaired physician achieve sobriety

approach the problem from a therapeutic angle rather than a disciplinary one

Question 7

incidence of drug and alcohol abuse in physicians

Answer 7

10% - about the same as the gen pop

most commonly alcohol

Question 8

*** first indication of substance abuse

Answer 8

marital problems

Question 9

define intervention

Answer 9

structured process in which the impairment of the person is confronted in a caring, objective, non-judgmental manner so that the person receives an evaluation for his/her suspected impairment

Question 10

true or false: most states allow doctors to seek tx for substance abuse disorders without being reported to board of medicine if there is no evidence of pt harm

Answer 10

true

Question 11

why are the impaired not reported?

Answer 11

• they are difficult to identify
• hard to convince they need help
• intervention occurs only when hit rock bottom
• addicted can’t be helped until they want to be helped

Question 12

PHP can help before the medical board if ______

Answer 12

self-reporting

if not, and complaint is filed with board, odds are much greater that disciplinary action and license suspensionwill occur

Question 13

a person who furnishes information to an appropriate authority without malice is ______ from civil liability

Answer 13

immune

Question 14

“Do”s of intervention

Answer 14

• intervene early and assertively

- hevaioral contracts spell out the consequence of noncompliance; namely, loss of license or hospital privileges

Question 15

success rate of physician health programs in helping physicians return to practice

Answer 15

90%