WPHP Advocates For Participants

WPHP works to protect and enhance the confidentiality of our participants. We’ve compiled a list to highlight some of the hard work we’ve done over the past year.

Recently, Dr. Bundy interviewed with InvestigateTV to explain how confidentiality for physicians translates to safer care for patients.

A few weeks ago, in partnership with the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Medical Commission, WPHP was successful in preserving an important protection for participant confidentiality in the public records act. 

WPHP introduced legislation in 2022 that adds enhanced confidentiality protections for program participants. SSB 5496 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

In November 2021, WPHP worked closely with the Washington Medical Commission to remove licensure questions about health history, replacing them with an advisory that points to WPHP. The amended application only asks about current impairing or potentially impairing substance use that is not known to WPHP.

UW/VA ATTEND Study just out

Dr. Rebecca Hendrickson and colleagues research identifies demoralization as a critical target for workforce sustainability amidst the continuing pandemic.

Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/1-in-5-nurses-say-theyll-quit-their-careers-as-pandemic-takes-steep-toll-on-mental-health-wa-study-shows/ 

StatNews: https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/16/health-care-workers-suffering-goes-far-beyond-burnout-self-care-isnt-the-cure/

A Message from WSMA

WPHP stands with Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) on this important message. #GetVaccinated

Dr. Tammie Chang’s new book, “How to Thrive as a Woman Physician”

How to Thrive as a Woman Physician provides valuable insights, tip, and resources for all women physicians!  

New FSPHP Physician Health Issue released!

The Fall 2021 Issue of the Federation of State Physicians Health program Physician Health News features a moving message from Dr. Bundy.  

Open letter to our COVID Frontliners

Pink Coat, MD: Wellness and Empowerment for Female Physicians  

Tammie Chang, MD is Medical Director of Provider Wellness for MultiCare and Founder of PinkCoatMD which aims to support and empower female physicians. 

KevinMD article features Dr. Tammie Chang

A recent KevinMD article features Tammie Chang, MD, on the power of grace – for others and for ourselves amidst the challenges of COVID. 

Dr. Chris Bundy receives the WSMA President’s 2021 Unsung Hero Award!

This award recognizes Dr. Bundy’s extraordinary contributions to Washington’s healthcare workforce and honors the work of WPHP.  

Doug Yoshida, MD, JD highlights WPHP’s voluntary participation.

At the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Annual Meeting, Doug Yoshida, MD, JD highlights WPHP’s high rate of voluntary program participation.  

Seattle Met article features Dr. Bundy on overcoming COVID-19 burnout.

Dr. Bundy speaks on the effects of COVID-19 on the health care worker burnout epidemic. He explains what people may be feeling and how we may overcome it.  

July Issue of Journal of Medical Regulation feature

July Issue of Journal of Medical Regulation features Dr. Christopher Bundy and Dr. Betsy Williams.

Partnering with State Physician Health Programs article featured in Psychiatric Times

A recent article, written by Dr. Steven Adelman, describes the advantages of working with PHP’s for psychiatrists and others who provide care to physicians. 

WPHP is Hiring!

Want to work with an outstanding team, helping physicians and other health professionals heal and achieve lives and careers they never thought possible? Check out our 2 Clinical Coordinator job postings! 

Free suicide prevention webinar with CME offered by FSPHP!

Federation of State Physician Health Programs is offering a free on-demand webinar, Physician Suicide Prevention: Listening to the Voices of Experience. 

Dr. Bundy presenting at the IDAA Annual Meeting!

Dr. Chris Bundy, MD, MPH and Dr. Lynn Hankes, WPHP Medical Director Emeritus will be presenting at the IDAA Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida. They are presenting on the past, present and future of physician health programs. Learn more about IDAA and the Annual Meeting.  

ADA Dentist Health and Well-Being Conference 2021!

It is always the right time to take care of yourself!  Register now for this 5 CE virtual event emphasizing human connection and peer support. 

WMC Summer Update features article by Dr. Bundy!

See Dr. Bundy’s article, “WPHP Q and A,” in the latest edition of The Washington Medical Commission’s newsletter, Update!  

NIDA/NIH-FSPHP Research Study Opportunity!

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)/National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP), is conducting a research study to understand how neural circuitry and human physiology is changed by addiction and repaired by recovery.  Our PHP follows your recovery status closely – we understand your journey in recovery better than any other set of people in the world. This cohort—YOU—are essential to the goal of this research study – to identify brain biomarkers of addiction and thus, optimize the efficacy of currently available therapeutics.  Please contact Betty Jo Salmeron, M.D. at (443) 740-2651 or BSalmeron@nih.gov to learn more.   More information about the study is here too: https://fsphp.memberclicks.net/how-php-participants-can-get-involved. 

Learn More about the Study

Takeaways from frontline clinicians 1 year after COVID-19

The National Academy of Medicine released their findings after reaching out to clinicians on how COVID-19 has affected their professional and personal lives. The results may be helpful in furthering efforts to improve physician well-being.  

Read Now