Washington Physicians Health Program Services

Services

WPHP contracts with the State of Washington Department of Health to provide services to healthcare practitioners: “WPHP is the qualified provider for potentially impaired physicians, physician assistants, osteopathic physicians, osteopathic physician assistants, podiatric physicians, dentists, and veterinarians and whose objective is to motivate healthcare practitioners to enter treatment and to recover from their illnesses, and, in so doing, will serve to minimize the losses and other negative impacts that are caused by these illnesses.”

SERVICES

WPHP sees chemical dependency as a bio-psycho-
social-spiritual disease.

WPHP offers a variety of different programs:

Chemical Dependency
WPHP provides initial assessment, intervention, referral, and monitoring services for potentially impaired practitioners who are suffering from substance abuse or dependence. Practitioners are offered a choice of qualified facilities for evaluation and or treatment if indicated. Following evaluation or treatment, WPHP implements a plan that involves:

1. Random bodily fluid and hair testing
2. Worksite monitoring
3. Professionally facilitated group behavioral monitoring

WPHP provides guidance and endorsement regarding employment, insurance, and legal issues while continuing to monitor the compliance of clients as described above. WPHP reviews compliance reports from various agencies, worksite monitors, consultants, psychiatrists, and therapists. WPHP then provides endorsements for the client to the appropriate disciplinary authority, if indicated, and to malpractice insurance carriers, managed care entities, and to others as requested.

Other Mental Disorders
WPHP provides similar initial assessment, intervention, referral, and monitoring services for potentially impaired practitioners who do not have substance abuse or dependence but who may be suffering from cognitive, mood, anxiety, personality, psychosis, or other DSM IV disorders. Practitioners are offered a choice of qualified facilities for evaluation and or treatment, if indicated, and may continue treatment with their personal psychiatrist or therapist after completion of the evaluation or treatment. Following evaluation or treatment, WPHP implements a plan that involves:

1. Medication management
2. Psychotherapy
3. Worksite monitoring
4. Psychiatric monitoring

Dual Disorders
WPHP provides initial assessment, intervention, referral, and monitoring services for potentially impaired practitioners who may be suffering from the combination of both a substance related disorder and any other mental disorder. An example would be alcohol dependence and depression. Practitioners are offered a choice of qualified facilities for evaluation and or treatment, if indicated, and may continue treatment with their personal psychiatrist or therapist after completion of the evaluation or treatment. Following evaluation or treatment, WPHP implements a plan that involves:

1. Medication management
2. Psychotherapy
3. Worksite monitoring
4. Random bodily fluid and hair testing
5. Professionally facilitated group behavioral monitoring
6. Psychiatric monitoring

Physical and Neurological Disability
WPHP provides similar initial assessment, intervention, referral, and monitoring services for potentially impaired practitioners who do not have substance abuse or dependence but who may be suffering from a disabling physical or neurological condition. Examples would be multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injury. Practitioners are offered a choice of qualified facilities for evaluation and or treatment, if indicated, and may continue treatment with their personal physician after completion of the evaluation or treatment. Following evaluation or treatment, WPHP implements a plan that involves:

1. Medication management
2. Worksite monitoring
3. Supportive psychotherapy

Stress and Behavioral Issues
WPHP provides similar initial assessment, intervention, referral, and monitoring services for potentially impaired practitioners who may be suffering from stress induced disorders or who may be exhibiting disruptive behavior in the workplace. Practitioners are offered a choice of qualified facilities for evaluation and or treatment which may include 360° worksite evaluations and consultation with an organizational psychologist for mediation. Following evaluation or treatment, WPHP implements a plan that involves:

1. Medication management, if indicated
2. Psychotherapy and professional coaching
3. Follow up 360° worksite evaluations
4. Follow up mediation by an organizational psychologist, if indicated
5. Psychiatric monitoring

Women’s Program
WPHP recognizes that women have different treatment issues and that they often benefit from treatment programs that are gender-specific to address these unique needs. WPHP provides women with facilitated behavioral monitoring groups post-treatment in a safe, caring environment consistent with the issues that affect women in early recovery. As healthcare practitioners, women have additional gender-related professional and personal role conflicts that are explored in the context of being a woman in recovery.

Confidentiality of WPHP
clients is protected to the maximum extent provided by existing State and Federal law.
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Information about WPHP
Download materials that further describe WPHP
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