REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PHYSICIAN HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
CM-PHR Report 1-A-06
Subject: Public Education on Physician Health Matters; Medical Student and Resident Physician Activities, Treatment Facilities, Internal Analyses
Presented by: John S. Jackson, MD, Chair
Public Education on Physician Health Matters
The committee developed information on its services for placement on the TMA Web site. By making information regarding physician health and rehabilitation readily available to the public, the committee hopes to (a) dispel the myth of non-recovery from alcoholism, drug dependence, and mental illness, (b) explain what recovery is for someone with alcoholism, drug dependence, and mental illness, (c) emphasize that physicians are human beings first and are subject to the same illnesses and problems as everyone else, (d) address misconception that physicians in recovery are handicapped-they can practice good medicine again, and (e) reinforce that treatment works-recovery is possible and, in fact, with proper treatment and subsequent monitoring, there is strong evidence of successful and prolonged recovery.
Medical Student and Resident Physician Activities
The committee offers three courses to medical students as part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series. Updated "Maintaining Professional Boundaries" and "Effective Management of Difficult and Frustrating Patients" courses were approved at the February 3 meeting. A PHR representative spoke at the Medical Student Leadership meeting on February 5 to increase awareness of course availability.
The committee offers publications yearly to medical students and resident physicians through medical schools and residency training program coordinators. This year, "Substance Abuse Among Physicians: Early Symptoms/Future Consequences" will be offered to both groups. In addition, the "Medical Student Stress and Burnout" brochure will be offered to medical schools for distribution to students, and "Do You Know a Resident Who Needs our Help?" will be offered to residency training program coordinators for distribution to resident physicians. A fee will be charged to offset expenses.
Treatment Facilities
The committee completed review of the treatment facilities surveyed in December 2005 to ascertain if they meet committee-established criteria. A list of facilities meeting the criteria will be distributed to committee members, district coordinators, and chairs of county medical society PHR committees. The list also will be provided to physicians and family members seeking evaluation and/or treatment. The treatment facility packet was expanded to include resources for physicians regarding maintaining professional boundaries, sexual misconduct, and physical disabilities.
Internal Analyses
Two internal analyses were conducted: monitoring activities in the state and Geographic Information System, a mapping program that organizes and displays data. As a result of the monitoring survey, the committee will develop a course on "Monitoring Physicians in Recovery" to address deficiencies and inconsistencies in the present system, as well as to provide a common information base for physicians who are monitors. The goal is to have this available as home study materials and on the Internet. All monitors will be encouraged to complete the course. After a period of time, the committee will consider sending the names of monitors completing the monitoring course to the Texas Medical Board (TMB).
The committee also is developing standardized letters to be utilized by PHR district coordinators and county medical society PHR committees submitted to the TMB on behalf of physicians being monitored.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006