Tip of the week: Confidential phone hotlines help identify impaired practitioners
Published October 2008
Impairment can be difficult to identify, and at times, members of the medical staff may be less likely to feel comfortable reporting instances of possible impairment than they are reporting disruptive behavior. Having different mechanisms for reporting possible impairment is important, and educating members and employees is of equal importance.
Having a confidential hotline allows individuals to feel more comfortable expressing concerns regarding an individual’s behavior or health issues—such individuals are more likely to speak openly if they know their identity will be kept confidential. Additionally, educating practitioners about the importance of self-reporting is also effective. The overall concern regarding impaired practitioners is the safety and quality of care provided to patients, but such concern should also be accompanied by compassion for the practitioner whose abilities may be diminished in some way due to illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, or some other impairment.
This week’s tip is from The Credentialing Coordinator’s Handbook, by Anne Roberts, CPMSM, CPCS.
|
EMAIL THIS PAGE
SUBSCRIBE
