Healthcare professionals are held to a certain standard – often viewed as the epitome of sound decisions and healthy lifestyles. However, studies estimate that 10-15% of healthcare professionals are likely to misuse substances during their careers.
In most cases, these healthcare professionals recognize that they do have a problem but the fear of jeopardizing their career sometimes keeps them from seeking help. The high-stakes nature of their career must then be considered when developing a care plan for these impaired healthcare professionals.
Impaired Healthcare Professionals: Where and When to Seek Help?
Specialized programs now exist within treatment centers like Positive Sobriety Institute to support healthcare providers. These treatment and care plans take into consideration the need for confidentiality, the importance of preserving the patient’s license, and the ultimate goal of going back to full-time practice.
There are also groups that aim to help impaired healthcare professionals. Caduceus groups, for instance, hold caduceus meetings where medical professionals can openly relay their stories and struggles. These meetings are often incorporated into the aftercare plan and may even be required in impaired healthcare practitioner agreements.
Signs of an Impaired Healthcare Professional
Substance misuse will inevitably have adverse consequences that can manifest in one’s health and behavior. For medical professionals, these could eventually reflect on their ability to practice their profession according to accepted standards. This would not just jeopardize their careers but also endanger their patients.
Here are some signs of impaired practice that may indicate the need for intervention:
- Always absent or late for shifts, often without a clear or valid explanation
- Smells of alcohol or always hungover
- Poor performance during procedures and similar instances
- Complaints from patients
- Errors on patient records, dispensing counts, and/or narcotics records
- Unusual presence at the facility even when not scheduled for a shift
- Takes frequent ‘bathroom breaks’ or leaves the work area unexpectedly
- Unpredictable behavior including emotional outbursts, mood swings, and aggression
- Conflicts with colleagues
- Sudden interest in medication such as insisting on administering meds to patients of other practitioners
Personalized Impaired Healthcare Professional Care Plan
Care plans serve as a guide in addressing the unique needs and struggles of each impaired healthcare professional. While care plans are individualized to achieve best outcomes, there are general goals that all care plans must meet, including the following:
- Provide a supportive environment in overcoming the patients’ issues
- Help develop strong coping skills and effective coping strategies
- Promote family involvement and help strengthen familial bonds
- Provide resources and options for treatment and long-term recovery
Treatment centers implement different recovery programs for substance use disorders. The same is true when it comes to developing care plans. In general, impaired healthcare professional care plans cover everything from assessment to aftercare.
Extensive Assessment and Diagnosis
The initial step is assessing the patient for data that will be used for proper diagnosis. Assessment and tests may be performed for the following:
- Physical signs such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady gait, etc.
- Changes in behavior including mood swings, irritability, low motivation, etc.
- Observable withdrawal or intoxication symptoms such as tremors, sweating, or agitation
- Strains in social and personal relationships
- Poor work performance
- Reports from colleagues, family members and friends on possible substance use-related behavior
- Positive drug screenings
- High liver enzyme levels
Additional tests and assessments can also be done to identify co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and more. This ensures that all issues will be effectively addressed.
Setting Goals
After the assessment, realistic goals and expected outcomes will be set. This may include:
- Acceptance of responsibility for their own behavior
- Acceptance of the need for treatment
- Improve coping skills
- Achieve abstinence from alcohol and other addictive substances
- Make lifestyle changes to maintain good health
- Rebuild relationships
- Enhance overall well-being
Individualized Treatment
Next, specific interventions will be laid out to meet the set goals. These interventions will also take into consideration the patient’s unique circumstances and personal preferences. Interventions usually include:
- Medications to address withdrawal symptoms, co-occurring disorders, and/or health complications
- Individual counseling and family therapy
- Support group meetings for healthcare professionals such as caduceus meetings
- Holistic therapies to enhance coping strategies
There will be regular evaluations and assessments to ensure that the interventions put in place are helping the patients achieve their recovery goals.
Continuing Care
An effective care plan includes an aftercare plan which would focus on the following:
- Relapse prevention
- Building a supportive community or peer support group
- Reintegration into the community
- Providing resources and ongoing support to ensure long-term sobriety
FAQ
What is an impaired healthcare professional?
It refers to an individual in the healthcare field, such as physician and nurse, who is unable to professionally and safely practice their profession. This is mainly due to psychological issues or misuse of alcohol and other substances.
Can healthcare professionals continue their practice while in treatment?
Yes, as long as the treatment does not interfere with their ability to safely and effectively practice their profession. However, if the condition they are being treated for impairs their judgment and compromises patient safety, they should discontinue practice in the meantime.
Where can impaired healthcare professionals get treatment?
They can seek help from any licensed professional or treatment facility. They can pursue treatment while practicing or commit to more extensive treatment and rehabilitation depending on the severity of the impairment. There are also treatment programs created specifically for impaired healthcare professionals.
Start Your Recovery Journey at Positive Sobriety
An individualized care plan serves as an invaluable guide and critical aspect of recovery. If you are a healthcare professional struggling with substance misuse and related issues, other factors like confidentiality must be incorporated into your care and treatment plan.
Positive Sobriety Institute has created a safe and secure place in Chicago where healthcare professionals can achieve successful recovery. We have a team of licensed clinicians who conduct assessments and create personalized care plans with great expertise and compassion.. Let us create a care plan for your long-term sobriety, contact us today!
