The Oregon experience with impaired physicians on probation. An eight-year follow-up

J. H. Shore

Sixty-three addicted or impaired physicians who had been on probation with the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners were followed up in a new rehabilitation program for eight years. A majority (59%) were still on probation at follow-up, and 75% were rated as stable and improved. Problems of addiction affected 78%. The most successful treatment outcomes were for addicted physicians whose improvement was significantly associated with random urine monitoring to detect repetitive drug abuse. This research confirms an effective treatment approach for addicted or impaired physicians and is compared with other outcome studies.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Doctors' health and fitness to practise: treating addicted doctors
Marshall
Occup Med (Lond) 2008;58:334-340.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Random Drug Testing to Reduce the Incidence of Addiction in Anesthesia Residents: Preliminary Results from One Program
Fitzsimons et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2008;107:630-635.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Risk Factors for Relapse in Health Care Professionals With Substance Use Disorders
Domino et al.
JAMA 2005;293:1453-1460.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A 35-Year-Old Physician With Opioid Dependence
Knight
JAMA 2004;292:1351-1357.
FULL TEXT  

ETHYL GLUCURONIDE: A BIOMARKER TO IDENTIFY ALCOHOL USE BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Skipper et al.
Alcohol Alcohol 2004;39:445-449.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

ONE HUNDRED ALCOHOLIC DOCTORS: A 21-YEAR FOLLOW-UP
Lloyd
Alcohol Alcohol 2002;37:370-374.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Health care professionals referred for treatment of alcohol and drug problems
Gossop et al.
Alcohol Alcohol 2001;36:160-164.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Physicians Disciplined by a State Medical Board
Morrison and Wickersham
JAMA 1998;279:1889-1893.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Missed problems and missed opportunities for addicted doctors
Strang et al.
BMJ 1998;316:405-406.
FULL TEXT