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This CPPPH newsletter aims to keep readers abreast of current developments and relevant information about physician health and wellbeing in California.
All past issues are available from the CPPPH website: www.CPPPH.org.
Definitions
Wellness activities address quality of life and professional satisfaction for all physicians.
Wellbeing activities focus on an individual physician and provide resources for identifying, evaluating, referring, treating, and monitoring for physicians when addiction, mental health, behavioral issues, and the effects of aging are a concern.
Confidential Assistance Over the Phone
The Physicans’ and Dentists’ Confidential Assistance Line is a 24-hour phone service providing completely confidential doctor-to-doctor assistance for physicians experiencing substance use or mental health issues. Call:
Send Us Your Comments
We want to hear from you. Send comments to gjara@cppph.org.
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May 24 Meeting about a Physician Health Program for California
The next step toward getting a physician health program for California will come at the May 23-24 meeting of the Medical Board of California when the agenda calls for presentations from Christopher Bundy, MD, Executive Medical Director of the Washington Physicians Health Program and Paul Earley, MD, Medical Director of the Georgia Professionals Health Program.
Agenda item 11, “Presentation on Successful Elements of Physician Health Programs,” is the first item for Friday, May 24. You will be able to watch the presentations by joining the WebEx: https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Download/User-Guides/HowToJoinAWebExEvent.pdf
Doctors Bundy and Earley are the subject matter experts invited to help Board members determine whether the better action would be to accept the currently proposed regulations as written or seek changes in the legislation that governs what the Board can create for a California Physician Health and Wellness Program.
At the last MBC meeting (February 29-March 1), several Board members commented on the fact that the Board is “ham strung” by legislation: while they would hope to have a California program like those in other states that attract self-referral and foster early intervention, they could not because they must follow the legislation that placed Uniform Standards into California’s Business and Professions Code (SB1441 Ridley-Thomas 2008). That legislation defines how a California program can function, and the currently proposed regulations conform to those requirements in legislation. [For their meeting on Feb. 29-Mar 1, the Medical Board distributed copies of the proposed regulations and all the comments received during the 45-day comment period that ended November 14. You can read the full text of proposed regulations and all the comments received HERE.
Professional Liability Insurance Companies Recognize State Physician Health Programs
The Medical Professional Liability (MPL) Association has announced that the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, Inc. (FSPHP) received the 2024 Award of Excellence in Physician Wellness. FSPHP is being honored for its role as a leader in the medical community, specifically to improve the health and well-being of medical professionals. (See https://e-tmf.org/fsphp-receives-mpla-award-of-excellence-in-physician-wellness/)
“We applaud the Federation of State Physician Health Programs and stand with them in the mission to support physician health programs to improve the health of medical professionals, thereby contributing to quality patient care,” said MPL Association Board Chair John H. Mize. The MPL Association is the leading international organization representing the medical professional liability insurance community.
Federation of State Physician Health Programs, Inc. (FSPHP) is the national association of Physician and Health Professional Programs (PHPs) that provide confidential assessment, referral to treatment, resources, and monitoring for physicians and healthcare professionals, and those in training, who may be at risk of impairment from mental illness, substance use disorders, and other health conditions. In addition to working with participants, PHPs provide education, outreach, and advocacy to their medical communities in support of physician health and well-being.
“PHPs facilitate the return of healers to practice with outcome data that far surpasses that for the general population facing similar disorders. Embracing these programs isn’t just about healing individuals; it’s about reducing professional liability risk, ensuring patient safety, and advancing a culture of empathy, accountability, and excellence in patient care.” said Michael J. Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs and medical director of the Tennessee
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