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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 Physicians’ 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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RCMA Annual Conference — Unprofessional Behavior
The Riverside County Medical Association’s 37th Annual Virtual Conference on Physicians’ Well-Being in July drew over 160 participants to hear talks by William Perry, PhD; Karen Miotto, MD: and Shelley Carder, Esq., and others. The theme this year was appropriate interventions to address unprofessional physician behavior. Until August 18, copies of the speakers’ slides and recordings of the presentations available HERE.
Projected Timeline for Getting a PHP for California
At the RCMA conference, Reji Varghese, the Executive Director of the Medical Board of California, discussed the “California Physicians’ Health Program” with an update on the status of AB408 – the bill currently in the legislature to authorize the MBC to create a Physician Health and Wellness Program for California.
In the Q&A session after his talk, Moderator Dr. Ray Glendrange asked Mr. Varghese, “What is the timeline?” Mr. Varghese’s reply: “We first have to get the policy straight. That step requires getting all stakeholders aligned and in support of a bill – which we understand will involve some tweaking to the language we have now. After passage in the Senate and a signature by Governor Newsom, the next step is to get the funding structure in place which will take another piece of legislation and another legislative session, at the minimum. Then, we can begin the process of contracting with an outside agency – preparing a request for proposal and putting it out in a public bidding process. From my experience, I say that will take another year. Thus, I see that we are looking at a couple of years minimum after the Governor signs this new legislation.”
The full presentation and discussion with Mr. Varghese is available until August 18th from the recordings posted by RCMA HERE.
FSMB Report on Reentry to Practice
The Federation of State Medical Board’s 2025 Report on Reentry to Practice updates and combines two earlier papers: Reentry to Practice (HOD 2012) and Reentry for the Ill Physician (HOD 2013), and provides recommendations intended to serve as a framework for common reentry standards and processes for state medical boards.
The paper includes a glossary that distinguishes among terms and phrases commonly used such as reentry program and return to work. “Physician Return to Work means a return to clinical practice after a period of medical leave the duration of which would not be expected to negatively impact practice performance or require reentry interventions. Return to work planning typically occurs under the supervision of a physician health program (PHP).”
In the section titled Impairment the report says, “Physicians with board action caused or exacerbated by illness or impairment can pose unique challenges for reentry after an extended absence from practice. The following two sections are for state medical boards with and without access to a state physician health program, listing important considerations in each situation.
For a copy of the 23-page report, click HERE.
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