Physician Health Programs: The US Model

Abstract

Physician Health Programs (PHPs) began in the early 1970s in response to calls from the Federation of State Medical Boards and the American Medical Association alarmed by physicians with addiction and/or psychiatric illness as well as the high number of physician suicides in those who had experienced licensure revocation. From modest beginnings, often as small volunteer groups within state medical societies, PHPs have grown and matured in their structure, funding, authority to operate, scope of services, and consistency from state to state. This process has been aided by their national membership organization, the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP). PHP studies demonstrate PHP monitoring is highly effective in assisting physicians with potentially impairing illness while doing so in a fashion that promotes public health and safety. Today, these programs continue to work toward accountability, consistency, excellence, and serve as a “new paradigm” for addiction management. The success rates observed for PHPs significantly exceed other addiction care practices, and as a result PHPs have set a new standard showing that recovery (rather than relapse) can be the expected outcome of treatment. PHPs are well accepted by most all medical societies and licensure boards. This chapter will review the history of state PHPs, describe their authority to operate, staffing, funding relationships, and the expanding scope of services provided. It will also review recommendations for improvements and opportunities for growth.