Physicians Practice - February 2008 - (Page 67)

“You should absolutely be documenting any issues you see because it prepares you to intervene,” Roediger says. “These situations can turn into very serious cases; you don’t want to get caught saying under testimony that you didn’t have any suspicions when, in fact, you did.” INTERVENTIONS THAT WORK Krall and others recommend that interventions be rehearsed with a speciﬁc plan in mind. Those participating health program. Nearly every state has one of these independent nonproﬁt organizations that help physicians who want to recover from substance abuse and other problems without putting their license in danger. Krall says interventions work best when attendees express sincere concern about the physician’s health and professional future. It’s best to have a clear plan of action to suggest, such as getting an evaluation and diagnosis by an outside physician. “You tend to want to look the other way and hope it will resolve itself but it usually doesn’t. Denial is often the biggest hurdle to get over.” FACE THE FACTS Edward Krall, MD in an intervention should approach the physician with the facts about his or her behavior, express their personal concerns, and then make speciﬁc recommendations. “You want to have your ducks in a row as you go into this because there is apt to be a fair amount of denial,” he says. The intervention team should include the physician’s supervisor, such as the practice president or department chief, plus two or three close physician colleagues, and perhaps a family member. It may be helpful to include a recovering addict who is also a physician or other professional. Sound like a lot of planning for a dicey event that could go awry? You bet. That’s why Krall suggests getting expert advice to plan the intervention. One resource could be your state’s physician WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM “You make it clear you are not there to diagnose or treat or punish but to present your concerns out of a collegial spirit,” he says. And yes, expect denial. “These things never go really smoothly because usually the person doesn’t see it,” says Tom Weida, a family physician who is professor and medical director at Penn State Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine. “You have to help that person become aware that there is a problem by pointing out their performance, which is where you usually see the ﬁrst red ﬂags.” SYSTEMS HELP THE PROCESS State physician health programs work with state medical boards to help physicians gain access to substance abuse treatment without risking their medical licenses — if they follow FEBRUARY 2008 | PHYSICIANS PRACTICE | 67 http://www.countmein.biz http://WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Physicians Practice - February 2008

Physicians Practice - February 2008 Contents The Bigger Picture: Your Future is in Your Hands Letters Physicians Practice Pearls: Creating an A+ Practice Noteworthy Cover Story: Conquering Time: 5 Keys to a More Efficient Practice In Balance: A Family Affair Technology: Making EMRs Work in the Exam Room In Practice: "I've Got Some Bad News" The Tech Doctor - The EMR: Savior or Poseur? Ask the Experts NEW! Healthonomics: How to Handle Health Savings Accounts The Administrator's Desk: Finishing School for New Managers Human Resources: Is Your Partner Impaired The Great Practice Makeover: Too Well-Liked for His Own Good? Coding Idealab: 'Why I Blog' Classifieds Advertiser Index

Physicians Practice - February 2008

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