2021 BOARD REPORTS
Arkansas Medical Foundation : 2021 Annual Report
BY DANNY WILKERSON , MD INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In 1983 , the Arkansas Medical Society realized that healthcare professionals with substance abuse problems and mental health issues needed an advocate to assist in rehabilitating and restoring them to safe practice . As such , the Arkansas Physician ’ s Health Committee , and later , the Arkansas Medical Foundation , were established . Since then , the Foundation has touched over a thousand lives and continues to provide a supportive place for impaired physicians to obtain assistance in treatment and monitoring in a confidential environment .
The Arkansas Medical Foundation strives to identify impaired physicians before disciplinary action is required so that they might receive the necessary treatment and monitoring to ensure that they can continue to practice unencumbered by disciplinary restraints . Unfortunately , physicians are often unaware of the existence of the Foundation . In order with provide us with more visibility , the Arkansas State Medical Board has a provision on your yearly renewal that requires each of you to attest acknowledgement of accessing and viewing our website . Please visit us at arkmedfoundation . org . We are happy to add information to our website concerning any pertinent CME or other items pertaining to our program . A portion of every physician ’ s annual fee to the Arkansas State Medical Board is sent to the AMF as support for the program . The AMF is a non-profit agency ; as such donations are accepted and are tax deductible .
We are pleased to announce the upcoming implementation of an Interactive Screening Program associated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention . The ISP is a completely confidential program that will be staffed by a psychiatric APN and will screen for depression and burnout . The program will allow you to speak confidentially with the APN for an appropriate referral in your area . The Arkansas Medical Society has generously funded part of this program in order to provide physicians with additional help and support .
Clients are referred to the Arkansas Medical Foundation by hospital administrators , spouses , children , concerned colleagues , and patients . Anyone can report an impaired physician and all reports are confidential and taken seriously . Each report is investigated , and if it is determined intervention is necessary , appropriate action is taken . Please contact us if you have concerns about yourself or any medical professional that is practicing in a potentially dangerous or impaired state . We are here to help , and to hopefully prevent you from becoming a statistic with disciplinary intervention .
If you are battling substance abuse problems , are embroiled in an ill-advised relationship with a patient , or if you have complicated psychiatric issues that might interfere with your practice , we encourage you to contact us for assistance and potential referral .
If you are battling substance abuse problems , are embroiled in an ill-advised relationship The Arkansas with a Medical patient Foundation , or if you have announces complicated the retirement of executive director
psychiatric issues that might interfere with your practice , we encourage you to contact us for assistance and potential referral .
J . LARRY LAWSON , MD
Dr . Lawson has served as the Foundation ' s only executive director since 2004 .
We recognize his achievements and applaud the leadership he has provided our organization .
The staff of the AMF wishes to thank you for your service , and we wish you well in your retirement .
SPRING 2022 | VOLUME 118 | NUMBER 9 193