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Physicians'
Health Foundation of Louisiana
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
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