Medical Professionals Health Program

The goal of our program is to identify professionals who are impaired, as early as possible, and to refer them to appropriate treatment facilities so that they may be assisted in returning to their careers.

1. *All information is confidential. Information concerning a health professional receiving assistance under any of the programs is considered confidential and is available only to those persons within the organization who have responsibility for the effective operation of the program. Likewise, confidentiality will be respected for anyone who contacts the program to obtain assistance for an impaired professional. Confidentiality is limited only by the overreaching responsibility for public safety. Impairments that have or may result in patient harm must be reported under protocols negotiated with the licensing boards.
   
   
2. Impaired professionals are treated with compassion and understanding. All programs are operated by concerned professionals.
   
   
3. All programs are operated in an ethical manner. Impaired professionals who are referred to outside sources for treatment may be asked to cease practice voluntarily until they are rehabilitated.
   
   
4. The program abides by applicable state laws.
   

The American Medical Association defines the impaired professional as “one who is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of physical or mental illness, including deterioration, through the aging process or lack of motor skills or excessive use or abuse of drugs, including alcohol.”

The Maine Medical Association Medical Professionals Health Program helps professionals who suffer from alcohol, chemical dependency, senility, or other illnesses that often are treated inadequately, if at all, when they occur in medical professionals. Members of the Committee on Medical Professionals Health act as advocates for their impaired colleagues, providing compassionate, comprehensive, and confidential assistance to medical professionals whose health problems may compromise their professional and personal lives and the lives of their patients.

Reports of impairment are accepted by the Committee from colleagues, family members, patients, friends, or the professional himself/herself. The Clinical Director or a member of the Committee then may meet the physician to assess the situation and, if appropriate, arrange for professional diagnosis and treatment. Committee members themselves do not make diagnoses or provide treatment. If no illness or impairment is substantiated, the case is dropped. When treatable illness is diagnosed, the prognosis is excellent.