XVI. Resident Impairment
A. Problem Identification – MSU/CHM Residents may be required to submit to drug/alcohol or clinical screening tests
If a resident shall, by virtue of his/her laboratory tests, behavior, deportment, or performance, raise concern that s/he is suffering from an emotional disorder including, but not limited to, substance abuse, s/he may, at the discretion of the program director of his/her program, be required to undergo clinical or drug/alcohol screening. Such examinations may be required periodically. Behaviors which might indicate the necessity for evaluation would include, but not be limited to the following:
1. Dereliction of normal duties
2. Inability to be aroused while on call and/or persistent tardiness
3. Disorganized thinking or memory impairment
4. Unprofessional or otherwise inappropriate behavior with peers, patients and their families, teaching faculty, or nursing staff
5. Demonstration of a disorder of mood such as depression or anxiety of such severity that it places the patients under his/her care at risk
B. Dealing with Impairment
If clinical evaluation and/or substance abuse screening determines that a disorder is present, the following options are available. Depending upon the severity of the resident’s impairment, and at the sole discretion of his/her Program Director (in consultation with the Department Chairperson), the following actions will be taken:
1. The resident will be monitored by the Michigan’s Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP) and will participate in group or individual therapy or other (AA or NA) activities as recommended by the HPRR. Note: Participation in the HPRP is confidential. If a licensee is referred to the program, has a qualifying diagnosis, and complies with HPRP requirements his or her name will not be disclosed to state regulatory authorities or the public. Provided there is no readmission, records of HPRP participants are destroyed five years after successful completion.
2. The resident may be permitted to continue to function with modification in his/her service load and/or supervision as deemed appropriate by his/her program director
3. The resident may be suspended or placed on sick leave
4. The resident may be placed on a formal leave of absence
5. Malfeasance, dereliction of duty or lack of compliance with treatment recommendations could lead to dismissal from the program
C. Due Process
Residents are entitled to due process as set forth in their contracts with respect to this policy.
1. Because of the impact on public health and safety, impaired health care practice is against the Public Health Code. Under Section 333.16222 of the Public Health Code, licensed health professionals are required to make good faith reports of ANY suspected violations of the Code to the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services.
A resident with a documented substance abuse problem may be listed in the “National Practitioner Database” per the NPD rules.