PHMC - Policies

Effective Date: June 25, 2008

College Contact: Dr. Janet L. Wright, Assistant Registrar

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Physician Health 
Monitoring Program

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There is a direct correlation between maintenance of sobriety and inclusion in a formalized maintenance and monitoring program. Some studies indicate that the likelihood of maintained abstinence doubles in individuals enrolled in maintenance and monitoring programs. Maintenance of continued abstinence is essential to safeguard the public in the case of addicted physicians with a history of addiction related work issues returning to the workplace. It is highly desirable for the addicted physician in recovery to be able to have “Proof of Abstinence” in the case of any complaint being made against them.

Taking these factors into consideration the following are recommended:

All physicians entering into the College of Physicians and Surgeons physician health monitoring program shall have monitoring systems put in place.

The monitoring system will be individualized to the variety of addictive disorder exhibited by the physician.

The variety of monitoring system chosen will take into account findings and reports from the treatment programs attended by the physician.

1. Monitoring systems may include regular monitoring of body fluids and /or other biological entities.
2. Monitoring, where possible, shall be done in a randomized fashion, except in cases where regular time based tests may be utilized.
3. The decision concerning the variety of testing system utilized should be discussed with the MRO. This will ensure that the most appropriate, up-to-date and effective method is utilized.
4. A system should be in place to make the possibility of abusing the monitoring system as remote as possible. Where possible and appropriate this should include witnessed collections.
5. The results of the tests should be sent to the MRO who is the responsible individual for ordering the investigation.
6. The results of the tests should be given to the Program Coordinator as soon as possible.