State Programs

All FSPHP state member Physician Health Programs (PHPs) are listed below. A Physician Health Program (PHP) is a confidential resource for physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, or those in training suffering from addictive, psychiatric, medical, behavioral or other potentially impairing conditions. PHPs coordinate effective detection, evaluation, treatment, and continuing care monitoring of physicians with these conditions. This coordination and documentation of a participant’s progress allows PHPs to provide documentation verifying a participant’s compliance with treatment and/or continuing care recommendations.

State member programs have a confidential diversionary role allowing for a therapeutic alternative to disciplinary action and have the support of organized medicine in its state in one of the following ways in order to qualify for membership:

1. Come under the direct auspices of the State Medical Society/Association; or
2. Be recognized/approved by the State Medical Society/Association (as a program of the Society/Association) in cases where the program is not under the direct auspices of the Society/Association; or
3. Be directed by a policy-making board which is composed of a majority representation from the State Medical Society/Association; or
4. Be administered by a state licensing or disciplinary agency that has a written agreement with the State Medical Society/Association which accepts this program.

Today, nearly every state has developed a PHP which operates within the parameters of state regulation and legislation.  PHPs provide important confidential peer to peer services to physicians (and in some states other health professionals) in need of support for their health and well-being.  PHP's have extensive expertise in education, outreach, and long-term monitoring of physicians who have recovered from mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Studies that review the long-term model of PHPs confirm physician recovery rates are markedly higher than the general population—even when extended into 5 years or more. One study reports that malpractice risk for those who complete a PHP is lower than for physicians practicing medicine who have never been followed by PHP monitoring. PHPs have restored the health and wellbeing of thousands of physicians for over three decades.  More articles featuring the PHP model, including FSPHP member testimonials and PHP participant stories, can be reviewed here: PHP Featured Articles.