Transcript Oklahoma`s Health Professional Recovery Program

Oklahoma’s Health Professional
Recovery Program
Ken King, CAE
OSMA Executive Director
Oklahoma’s Substance Abuse Recovery
Program
• Chemical dependency & alcoholism is a
disease that occurs in about 10% of the
general population.
• Rate within the healthcare profession is
higher, occurring in between 10-15%.
• OHPRP works cooperatively with the state
board of medical licensure to restore a
physician’s ability to practice safely & protect
the public.
OSMA’s OHPRP Program-1983-1997
• Since 1983, OSMA has provided services to
physicians with alcohol abuse and chemical
dependence issues.
• OHPRP is an outreach program designed to
support & monitor medical & allied health
professionals experiencing difficulty with
substance abuse.
• Employs 1 full time & 2 part time physician
medical directors to administer program.
OHPRP (cont.)
• Program is designed to coordinate and
monitor intervention, evaluation, treatment
and continuing care of impaired physicians.
• Take referrals from:
– Hospital staffs
– Medical groups
– Colleagues
– Families
– Licensing Boards
Treatment vs. Discipline
• OSMA’s Rehabilitative Approach:
• Alcoholism declared a disease in 1948 &
chemical dependency in 1953 by the AMA
• Evidence is clear that treatment is a much
more effective method of dealing with
problem than trying to discipline the behavior
OHPRP’s Relationship with Medical
Board
• OHPRP is independent of the Ok. State Board of
Medical Licensure & Supervision (OBMLS).
• However, documentation of participation &
compliance with OHPRP’s monitoring program can be
essential in helping maintain and/or restore licensure.
• OK Medical Practice Act requires an MD to report to
the Board if there is a, “prudent basis to suspect that
another physician is practicing while impaired by
substance abuse or is habitually drunk or on drugs and
is physically/mentally unstable.”
OHPRP’s Relationship with Medical
Board (cont.)
• While there is no formal arrangement with the
OBMLS, if a physician with a substance abuse
problem signs an agreement to participate in
OHPRP, remains in compliance and there are
no allegations of patient harm, there is a
reasonable chance that the Board will not
have to be involved.
OHPRP Program (cont.)
• Since the mid-1980s, more than 750
physicians have successfully completed
treatment and returned to work.
• This equates to returning over six University of
Oklahoma medical school graduating classes
to the physician workforce.
• Currently monitoring 125 MDs, DOs, PAs, and
Dentists
PLICO Support for OHPP
Liability data for 14
years
• MD’s in OHPRP Program 9/83 to 3/97 (258):
Pre-Discovery Recovery
# of OHPRP phys. w/ claims 89
39
# of claims
248
52
Paid/reserved for claims
8,017,000 307,600
Tot. MDs covered 4/2/94: 3,933
Paid/reserved for claims:
156.8 million
Comparison of Medical Malpractice
Claims
• 1980-1995
Pre-treatment Post Treatment
• Identified
94
94
Physicians w/ claims
• Avg. claim payment $37,382
$5,711
• Annual proj. pymt. $932,248
$70,012
• Proj. est. ann. savings:
$903,236
Conclusions
• OHPRPs value
Over 750 physicians have been successfully treated and
returned to work
Reputation for collaborating closely with the medical licensing
boards to protect the public
Reinforces Board reputation for being firm and fair
Refuted plaintiff’s bar argument that boards don’t protect
patients
Conclusions
• OHPRP Key Components:
• Good working relationship with licensing
boards
• Identify those who just don’t get it
• Monitoring is a 2-5 year contract:
– Drug and alcohol screening every 3-4 days
– Random testing
– Caduceus & AA required
– Support rather than Punishment
OKLAHOMA STATE MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION