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Physician Health Services (PHS) is
a non-profit corporation founded by the MMS that provides confidential
consultation and support to physicians, residents and medical
students facing health concerns related to:
- Alcoholism
- Substance abuse
- Behavioral or mental health issues
- Physical illness
PHS also provides
a safe environment where physicians can talk to other physicians
about the stress and demands of modern medical practice. Issues
often relate to:
- Stress of managing a practice
- Coping with a competitive work environment
- Financial pressures
- Dealing with administrative burdens
- Work-family balance
How Physician Health Services Works
When an individual contacts PHS about a physician, the director
or designated associate director assesses the situation and
assists in intervening with the physician. Physicians who
are chemically dependent or at risk of professional impairment
are encouraged to enroll in the monitoring program.
The monitoring program requires the physician to enter into
a contractual agreement with PHS that specifies a course of
treatment and documents the progress of recovery. The standard
contract requires individual therapy, group support meetings,
regular meetings with a designated PHS associate director,
random urine drug screens, the cooperation of a monitor who
interacts with the physician on a regular basis, and a chief
of service who agrees to help document the physician’s
abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
Monitoring contracts are available to physicians with behavioral
health problems. These contracts are designed to document
that the physician is complying with a specified treatment
plan.
PHS Services Include:
- Expert consultation and intervention designed to encourage
physicians to seek help for substance abuse, behavioral
or mental health concerns, and physical illness
- Referral to treatment
and counseling
- Recovery monitoring
and documentation
- Support groups
for physicians and their families
- Networking opportunities
with colleagues experiencing similar issues
- Educational programs and presentations to hospitals, HMOs,
or group medical staffs, and at grand rounds, lectures at
committee meetings, or at specialty society meetings
“PHS continues to dedicate itself
to the challenge of restoring physicians with substance dependency
and behavior health problems to full recovery. In the majority
of instances we continue to succeed in our efforts through
monitoring, support, and advocacy. Our success in no small
part is the result of the staff of PHS, our director, and
the associate directors of the Program. They have all dedicated
themselves to the challenges of serving the medical professionals
who turn to us. I remain extremely proud of my affiliation
with PHS and consider it as one of the finest and most beneficial
programs of its kind.”
 Edward
J. Khantzian, M.D.
Chair, Board of Directors, PHS
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