Contact PHF

The Physicians’ Health Foundation of Louisiana (PHF) offers assistance in the identification and resolution of impairment due to alcohol/drug abuse, mental illness or physical problems to impaired and potentially impaired physicians and advocates voluntary rehabilitation and recovery.

     An impaired physician is defined as one who is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill or safety to patients because of mental illness or deficiency, physical illness, including but not limited to deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills; and/or excessive use or abuse of drugs including alcohol.

The PHP specifically addresses 4 impairment types, including substance abuse/chemical dependency, psychiatric illness, disruptive behavior, and physical limitation.

The PHP refers physicians to evaluation/treatment facilities acceptable to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) which have programs for professionals to assess the alleged impairment.

If impairment is found to exist, the PHP requests that the physician execute a five year treatment contract, whereby the physician’ recovery from impairment is monitored.

Depending on impairment type, a physician who enters the PHP may be asked to attend aftercare, individual therapy, family therapy, AA/NA meetings, Caduceus meetings, obtain 5 hours of continuing medical education annually, and undergo random urine toxicology screening.

In exchange for a physician’ compliance with his/her treatment contract requirements, the PHP advocates on their behalf. This means that the PHP provides documentation to the LSBME, hospitals, practice partners, malpractice carriers, etc. to assure them that the physician is not impaired at the current time and is able to practice medicine with reasonable skill or safety to patients.
 

Physicians' Health Foundation of Louisiana

4303 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225.291.5000  FAX 225.291.5400
888.743.5747 or 888.phflphp

Medical Director: Michael L. Kudla, MD, mkudla@phfl.org

Administrative Director: Julie Alleman, jalleman@phfl.org                             

Case Manager:  Dawn Stagg, dstagg@phfl.org    

Office Assistant:  Lucille Bordelon, lbordelon@phfl.org