Physician Wellness: If a Doctor is in Need of Assistance
Dr. Robert Falcone
Sometimes issues that impact medicine are big topics in the news, get lots of legislative committee hearings and are common knowledge in the medical community. And other times are like this issue, more subtle, spanning several years, but still important to physicians – and in this case is emerging in a very positive place.
This week the Columbus Medical Association was pleased to add its support to the State Medical Board of rules that will change the processes on options to get physicians the help they need with a substance use disorder, a mental health condition, or a physical impairment.
As background, in 1995 the Ohio Physicians Health Program (now the Ohio Professionals Health Program) was created by the medical community for the medical community. OPHP was founded to “support physicians and other healthcare professionals mental, behavioral, or addictive disorders or illnesses impacting their wellness.” OPHP recognizes a reality that physicians as patients has the potential to create some unique dynamics that need specialized attention.
Over the years of OPHP’s work there have been issues and concerns around the sensitive nature of the needs of physician patients, and the State Medical Board’s regulatory role.
In the past several years, a number of issues came to a head that resulted in extended engagement between physicians, members of the Medical Board, staff of the Medical Board, members of the Ohio General Assembly, and members of the legal community who work with physicians and also in the mental health field.
As a result of this extended work, a new approach that brings significant improvements has been embraced by all parties, resulting in the proposed new rules of the State Medical Board that are now making their way through the approval process. These rules would:
Allow licensees and applicants of the medical board to work with OhioPHP when they need help with a substance use disorder, a mental health condition, or a physical impairment
Support the statutory changes that were passed in the state budget and include the removal of the “one-bite” program
Will allow a clinician to assess a licensee’s impairment and create an individualized treatment plan tailored to the needs of that person’s specific condition
Remove one-size-fits-all treatment and monitoring requirements
These rules are an important and significant change in the way that the medical board handles impairment cases. The Board staff and members have taken positive steps in the right direction. In addition to the proposed rules, the medical board recently voted in support of removing stigmatizing mental health and substance abuse questions from license applications and renewals. This action emphasizes the medical board’s investment in changing the way the board looks at impairment.
Many CMA physicians have been involved in this important area of work for many years, from the founding of OPHP, to serving as members of the medical board, to devoting time in supporting and advocating for change. The CMA believes that Ohio physicians, and ultimately patients, have been well served by all of this work and will be better off by the next step of the adoption and implementation of these rules.
Any CMA physician who feels they could benefit from the services of OPHP can contact the via the web at https://www.ohiophp.org/ or one the phone at 614-841-9690.