The Physician's Assistance Committee (PAC) shall be composed of at least eight (8) members, five of whom shall be physicians, one of whom shall represent legal, one of whom shall represent the Biological Sciences Division and the other member shall be a Staff and Faculty Assistance Program (SFAP)/Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor. The physician members shall have three (3) year staggered terms. The chair of the PAC shall be a physician with training in the field of substance abuse treatment.
The PAC shall be required to meet at least four times a year at set times; Committee proceedings will be recorded in minutes but the minutes will not violate confidentiality of persons served by the Physician's Assistance Committee.
Members of the PAC with supervisory or peer review responsibility over a physician needing assistance shall not participate in Committee activities involving that physician. The Committee shall evaluate reports concerning physicians (including all members of the Medical Staff, Residents, and Clinical Fellows) but shall not actively search out instances of physician impairment. The Committee will provide to physicians referred by self or others, recommendations and assistance, including education and counseling. The Committee does not disclose any of its information or activities except for providing feedback to the "referring source". In the event that the Committee believes the physician poses a patient risk and the physician does not cooperate with the Committee, the Committee may forward its information to appropriate individuals for disciplinary action under Article V of the Bylaws.
INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE PHYSICIAN IMPAIRMENT:
Whenever a matter for PAC action is brought to the attention of any member of the PAC, the member shall inform the PAC chair. The chair will convoke a meeting of the Committee to consider the facts presented. The PAC shall not take action on unverified information. This provision will not preclude the chair from discussing the allegations with the physicians involved as a means of verification. Interventions shall be conduced only after Committee concurrence and include trained personnel. Treatment plan agreements should be written and their terms should be agreed to by the physician involved and evidenced by his or her signature. Such plans should explicitly contain the actions the Committee will take if the physician fails to comply with the treatment plan. The PAC should determine and specify in advance the physician's responsibility to pay for the costs of the on-going treatment and recovery plan. If the circumstances are of such an emergent nature that the time involved in following any of the above rules would be injurious to the health of the physician involved or his or her patients, the PAC chair may take such actions as deemed necessary to safeguard the physician and the patients. The chair shall make his or her best efforts in such a situation to involve as many of the PAC members as is possible and feasible.
STAFF AND FACULTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM/EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INTAKE/EVALUATION
Any physician with possible chemical dependency issues is evaluated by a Staff and Faculty Assistance Program (SFAP)/Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor. The physician may be referred by: self, family member, co-worker, Physician's Assistance Committee, Department Chair, Licensing Board or treatment center. The SFAP/EAP counselor is notified of any physician brought to the attention of the Physician's Assistance Committee. An evaluation is completed by the SFAP/EAP counselor. This evaluation may be bypassed in an emergency situation requiring immediate action by the PAC chair or in the case of an intervention by the PAC. The physician will sign a release of information that allows communication between the SFAP/EAP counselor and the Physician's Assistance Committee, Department Chair, Dean, Provost, treatment center, and Licensing Board (if the physician is involved with the Board). The Physician's Assistance Committee is notified that the physician is undergoing an evaluation. After the evaluation is completed by the SFAP/EAP counselor, recommendations regarding the most effective course of treatment are given to the physician being treated and the Physician's Assistance Committee. All inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment will be completed at the Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes' Impaired Physician Program or an alternative program acceptable to the PAC. If there is a question of fitness for duty, the decision is made by an examining physician (recommended by the SFAP/EAP) in consultation with the Staff and Faculty Assistance Program/Employee Assistance Program counselor. If the examining physician providing the evaluation concludes that the physician is not fit for duty, the physician shall be required to complete the treatment plan prior to reassuming medical staff duties. If the examining physician providing the evaluation concludes that the physician is fit for duty, the PAC shall inform the Department Chair of such conclusion.
TREATMENT
When the physician is in treatment, the SFAP/EAP counselor will monitor progress, communicate with treatment personnel and provide updates to the Physician's Assistance Committee and the Department Chair if indicated. The Department Chair is responsible for keeping the Dean informed.
RETURN TO WORK
A physician may be considered for return to work once that recommendation has been given by his/her treating physician. Once this recommendation has been given by the treating physician, the PAC will determine: (1) if the physician is ready to resume practice; (2) if there should be any limitations on the practice; (3) the scope of an ongoing recovery plan as determined by the SFAP/EAP counselor in consultation with the treating physician (with which the physician will also be required to agree) including what monitoring procedures should be used. (Where chemical dependencies are involved, this monitoring plan will involve both on-going testing and face-to-face monitoring.); (4) except in situations where it would not be appropriate, a program of concurrent peer review and regular record review for a specified, but extendable period. The Physician's Assistance Committee will give its recommendation regarding the physician's readiness to return to work to the University Department Chair who, in turn, will communicate with the Dean and Provost. In the case of an attending physician, the return to work agreement will be effective only when signed by a representative of the University (Dean or Provost), Department Chair, PAC Chair and the physician. In the case of a Hospitals' resident, the agreement will be signed by the Department Chair, PAC Chair, and the resident. A copy of the agreement will be kept in the SFAP/EAP file.
AFTERCARE MONITORING
The SFAP counselor will be responsible for monitoring the aftercare contract with the treatment facility and the return to work contract with the University or Hospitals. All drug testing will be done by the Hospitals, the treating facility or facility approved by the Physician's Assistance Committee with the understanding that the SFAP/EAP will receive all result. The counselor will forward the results to the Licensing Board and/or the treatment facility if necessary. As part of the aftercare plan, the physician will meet with the SFAP/EAP counselor on a schedule determined by the counselor. Any positive test results or failure to comply with the aftercare plan or return to work agreement will be reported to the Physician's Assistance Committee and the Department Chair, who is responsible for informing the Dean.
Approved: February 14, 1996
Executive Committee of the Medical Staff Organization
CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
I, ______________________________________________________
Hereby authorize: Perspectives
To Release to:
________________________________________________
(Agency/Facility)
Obtain from:
_________________________________________________
(Address)
The following information
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
for the purpose of evaluation, treatment, and monitoring
progress and compliance with aftercare contracts, back to work
agreements, licensing regulations as part of the Physician's Assistance
Committee process.
I understand that I have the right to inspect and copy
information to be disclosed.
_______________________________
(Client)
_______________________________
(Witness)
________________________
(Date)
2/14/1996
CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
I, hereby authorize Perspectives to obtain any and all of my medical and psychological records from any entity, treating physicians or other health care professionals or counselors that in any way relate to my treatment for substance abuse and my aftercare arrangements. The purpose of this disclosure is for the University and the Physician's Assistance Committee of the Medical Staff Organization of the University of Chicago Hospitals to have sufficient information to evaluate my current fitness for duty and my compliance with aftercare programs, and to determine whether, and under what conditions, I may be permitted to return to employment at the University and the Hospitals, and, if I so return, whether I am meeting the conditions of my return. Accordingly, I also authorize Perspectives to share whatever information from my records it believes necessary and appropriate with any consultant it may retain to provide it or the University or Hospitals with an opinion or advice regarding my fitness and possible return. I also authorize Perspectives to share such information with appropriate representatives of the University and Physician's Assistance Committee so that they can make a decision on this matter and be kept informed whether I am meeting the terms of my return to employment, should I return. Finally, I also consent to a physical and psychological examination by an individual or individuals designated by the University, and at the University's expense, in order for the University and the Physician's Assistance committee to determine independently my fitness and ability to return.
I understand that I have the right to inspect and copy my medical record information that will be disclosed.
This consent shall remain in effect until revoked by me, but such revocation can have no effect on disclosures previously made. Any revocation of consent must be submitted in writing. It has been explained to me that if I refuse to authorize this release of information or revoke the release, I may not be considered for future employment at the University and, if subsequently employed by the University, may be subject to immediate termination of employment and clinical privileges.
Signed:_____________________________________
Dated: _____________________
Witnessed by: ________________________________
2/14/1996