All Entries Tagged With: "substance abuse"

Poll question: Does your organization have different controlled substance screening requirements for contracted practitioners versus non-contracted practitioners (i.e. traditional medical staff members)?

How does your organization compare to others? Take our poll below to find out.

Poll question: Does your medical staff and/or hospital screen for controlled substances?

How does your organization compare to others? Take our poll below to find out.

AZ medical board cutting costs, but with risk

I came across an interesting article describing the Arizona Medical Board’s decision to cut costs by terminating therapy for physicians with substance abuse problems. The board claims that the cost-cutting measure is low-risk because the providers undergoing treatment brought their additictions to the board’s attention rather than waiting to be discovered through an arrest or complaint.

However, the board’s decision has not gone unopposed. A physician at Scottsdale Healthcare says that ending treatment programs early can put patients at risk of relapse, and there is no way to determine which physicians are likely to relapse.

Here is my question: Is saving $37,000 worth the risk to patient safety? Is it worth otherwise good physicians from losing their licenses? Will we see more cases like Poliner?