Target audience: Physicians (including medical students, residents, fellows and attendings).

Learning Points / Objectives:

• Understand the current state of physician substance use / substance use disorders (general overview, demographic data, statistics, etc).
• Understand the warning signs that your substance use may be becoming a problem (I will share my story with alcohol use, the warning signs and symptoms).
• Describe what a physician should do if they are struggling with a substance use disorder but have yet to get "caught" (tell a friend, seek professional help, anonymous meetings, DONT REPORT IT TO THE BOARD, etc).
• Describe what a physician should do if they are struggling with a substance use disorder and had an adverse event (like me - got in trouble with alcohol at work - other adverse events like DUI, diversion, etc).
  • Detail The Steps of Reporting to Licensing Boards - Within how many days, how to do so, etc.
  • Understand if Getting Legal Representation Is the Correct Move (Pros Vs Cons)
  • Understand Your Rights As A Human and Physician In These Scenarios
  • Detail How An Event May End Up In The National Practitioner Data Bank And Repercussions of Having This.
  • Detail Next Steps For Your Life Going Forward (employment, sobriety, etc).
• Physician Health Monitoring Programs (PHMP) - Programs that "help" physicians get substance abuse treatment while simultaneously keeping them in "good standing" with licensing boards in exchange for rigorous substance use testing, accountability through therapy and other providers, and 12 step meetings.
  • • Recognize the connection between State Licensing Boards and PHMP's, and how a referral to a PHMP would be made for you by your states board.
    • Understand that each state has a PHMP and differences.
    • Understand how a PHMP can affect your license, credentialing, future employment.
    • Understand the typical contract lengths of a PHMP, testing requirements, costs (including therapy and testing)
    • Recognize if entering a PHMP would be the correct move for you or, if for example, you should obtain legal representation and fight.

More Details/Promo:

https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/personal-story-of-struggling-with-substance-abuse/