J . Larry Lawson , MD Executive Director
Bradley Diner , MD Medical Director
Rebecca Gaston Program Director
Arkansas Medical Foundation Report
In conjunction with The Physicians Health Committee
I n 1983 , the Arkansas Medical Society realized that health care 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 Physicians Health Committee , and later , the Arkansas Medical Foundation were established . Since then , the Foundation has touched hundreds of lives and continues to provide a place for impaired physicians to get assistance in treatment and monitoring in a confidential environment .
If you are battling substance abuse problems , are embroiled in an illadvised 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 .
The Arkansas Medical Foundation strives to identify impaired physicians before disciplinary action is required so that they might get 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 to 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 our website . Please visit our website at : www . arkmedfoundation . org .
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 . The Foundation assists practitioners licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board , the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners , and the Arkansas State Board of Optometry . The program consists of identifying , assisting , and securing treatment and aftercare monitoring , if recommended . Monitoring may consist of random drug screening , attendance with documentation at AA / NA meetings , psychotherapy , and physician support groups for a period of , usually , one to five years . The program has a success rate of over 90 % if these standards are adhered to . The Foundation advocates for clients in the program by providing credentialing information or periodic reports to their licensing agencies , insurance providers , and employers . If our services are secured by a voluntary agreement , the respective boards are never made aware of the issues unless the client declines to follow recommendations . More than half of our 130 plus participants are voluntary . The Foundation staff maintains close contact with all clients and provides personal support throughout their contract .
A portion of every physician ’ s annual fee to the Arkansas State Medical Board is sent to the Arkansas Medical Foundation as support for the program . We currently receive no outside contributions , so each participant is required to pay a small annual fee to help offset expenses . The Arkansas Medical Foundation is a non-profit agency ; as such , donations are accepted and tax deductible . Fees paid by clients are considered a business expense .
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 you and to hopefully prevent you from becoming a statistic with disciplinary intervention .
256 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society www . ArkMed . org