The DC Physician Health Program (PHP)

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Need help?

If this is a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

To learn more about the program, enroll in monitoring, or see what help is available for your healthcare professionals, email carreras@msdc.org or 202-466-1800 x102..

Saving Careers. Saving Lives.

Being a health care professional is tough. Physicians every day make vital decisions under a weight of expectations that few are equipped to handle. Often it feels like you are being asked to be a machine and do more better.

But to us, you are a person. And we know all people can succumb to burnout/stress, addictions, emotional or mental illness, and behavioral issues, We also know the difference is your problems could directly impact the safety of the patients they care for.

Fortunately the DC Physician's Health Program (PHP) addresses health concerns that are specific to health professionals while working to protect the safety of patients in Washington DC.

The MSDC Physician Health Program is a private, confidential, non-disciplinary program that works to advocate for the health and well-being of all physicians in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area and to safeguard the public.

The Program is HIPAA compliant and protects the confidentiality of participant records as set forth under DC and Federal law. The program is administered by the Medical Society of DC and is separate from the DC Board of Medicine. Read more in the MSDC PHP brochure on this page.

For a confidential consultation for your or a colleague that may benefit from our help, please call (202) 466-1800 x102 or email us.  This is not an emergency service; for emergencies please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Presentations

The PHP can help hospitals meet Joint Commission requirements by providing information on physician impairment at medical staff meetings or grand rounds. An overview of the services or a CME lecture on physician impairment may be scheduled by contacting Robert Hay Jr. by email.

Support Your Colleagues

Do you want to help support your fellow physicians going through their own struggles? The Healthy Physician Foundation was established to fund physician health and addiction programs. Your generous gift allows us to continue supporting those physicians in most need. Donate using the button below.

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News Stories About Physician Addiction and Health Programs

 

Committee on Health Passes Bill Regulating Physician Reporting

Jan 29, 2020, 15:10 PM by MSDC staff
Changes to B23-269, The Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019, have made strict new reporting requirements less onerous to District physicians.

Today, the District Committee on Health passed B23-269, the Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019. The passed version of the legislation contains some changes to the original language that is important for District physicians to be aware of.

Original Legislation

MSDC testified before the Committee on Health on the original bill and stated its opposition. The reasons for our opposition is that the desire by DC Health to further regulate physician reporting would potentially harm physician wellbeing in a few key ways:

  • The legislation would require a health professional to report to the Board if he/she/they had "a mental or physical impairment that results in the health professional being unable to perform his or her occupation in a safe and effective manner"

  • A health professional or employer would be fined $10,000 for failing to report a reportable incident

  • A health professional or employer would have 10 days to report an incident such as an adverse lawsuit, termination of employment, or malpractice suit confidential settlement.

MSDC's main concern was the ambiguity in this language would disadvantage physicians from seeking assistance for burnout or addiction, especially with the onerous fine and short reporting timeline. MSDC thanks the DC Hospital Association and DC Primary Care Association for standing with us on this issue

Amended language

Today, the Committee on Health passed amended language to B23-269 that addressed some of those concerns. Changes included:

  • Reporting requirements would not apply to a physician that loses or suspends privileges due to addiction who "enters and successfully completes a prescribed program of education or rehabilitation". Rather, the reporting requirement comes into play when the physician falls out of the program or shows no ability to complete the program.

  • The fines for failing to report to DC Health is tiered based on previous failures to report

  • The 10 day reporting requirement becomes a 10 business day reporting requirement.

MSDC welcomes comments from its members on the legislation and will update all physicians as the legislation advances. Any member who wants to become more involved in advocacy efforts should contact Robert Hay Jr. at hay@msdc.org or 202-466-1800.

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