PHMC - Policies

Effective Date: February 5, 2009

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

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Physician Health 
Monitoring Program

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Purpose: To review the role definition of the MRO in the CPSA Physician Health Monitoring Program.

Background: An integral part of the CPSA Physician Health Monitoring Programs is the adapted role of the certified MRO. [1]

The MRO:

• Serves as the objective gatekeeper of program quality in drug testing.
• Is a licensed physician who is responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results generated by an employer's drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for certain drug test results.
• Renders an opinion about whether or not here is a legitimate medical explanation for a confirmed laboratory finding.
• Reviews results to make certain the specimen belongs to the donor.
  • MROs have a responsibility to correctly verify test results.
  • By reviewing both negative and positive results this function also serves to protect the donor alleviate fears among participants in the program.

The MRO, through training and experience, is knowledgeable in the areas of:

• the pharmacology of drugs of abuse
• accepted pharmacological treatment and standard prescribing practices for specific disease process
• the use and authorization to prescribe controlled substances consistent with local and federal drug regulations
• ethical considerations in workplace drug testing programs,
•  laboratory testing methodology and quality control, laws ad regulations related to the use of illicit and licit substances
• chemical dependence and addiction behavior
• and employee assistance programs and rehabilitation. [2]

In the CPSA Physician Health Monitoring Program, the role is adapted to ensure accommodation of the unique nature of the program as both a regulatory and a clinical one. The CPSA MRO is committed to ensuring the ongoing integrity of the drug-testing component of the physician health-monitoring program, and endorses ongoing quality improvement through liaison with key stakeholders.

Conclusion:

The MRO in the CPSA Physician Health Monitoring Program operates within a role that has been adapted to physician aftercare settings, and not the traditional role of an MRO, to oversee the drug testing protocols in the program.

[1] Medical Review Officer Certification Council, MROCC.

[2] Adapted from: ACOEM Statements.