• Fear of referring patients because contact with colleagues may expose perceived or actual deficiencies in pa- tient care,
• Conducting hospital rounds at unusu- al hours or on a schedule that differs from that of colleagues, and
• Becoming difficult to contact. If you’re concerned a physician may
have a potentially impairing condition, call the TMA Physician Health and Well- ness (PHW) program’s 24-hour, toll-free number, (800) 880-1640. The PHW pro- gram helps with intervention; referral for evaluation and treatment, if neces- sary; monitoring upon return from treat- ment; and wellness education for physi- cians, family members, and support staff. In addition, the PHR Assistance Fund offers financial assistance to physicians who can’t afford treatment. For more in- formation about the PHW program, visit
www.texmed.org/phw. A Physician’s Guide Through the Dis- ciplinary Process explains how affected physicians can take advantage of the Texas Physician Health Program, which encourages reporting and allows non- punitive monitoring of physicians with impairment problems. More information about the program, which provides con- fidential treatment referrals and moni- toring, is available at
www.txphp.state
.tx.us.
Any physician who has or may have
an alcohol or substance use disorder (or a mental or physical impairment) is eligible to participate in the Texas Phy- sician Health Program unless the physi- cian has violated the standard of care as a result of drugs or alcohol, committed a boundary violation with a patient or a patient’s family, or has been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for a felony. For more about physician health and
wellness, visit the library of online cours- es from the TMA PHW Committee found under the Physician Health category in the TMA Education Center, http://tex
med.inreachce.com. n
Crystal Zuzek is the editor of Texas Medicine. You can reach her by telephone at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1385, or (512) 370-1385; by fax at (512) 370-1629; or by email at
crystal.zuzek@texmed.org.
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March 2014 TEXAS MEDICINE 45
©2013 Texas Mutual Insurance Company
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