CONFIDENTIAL MONITORING & ADVOCACY
UPHP does not provide treatment, rather it serves to promote the health and wellbeing of licensed healthcare and professionals and the safety of their patients, through coordination of assessment, treatment placement, and long-term aftercare monitoring.
Confidential Monitoring occurs when an assessment indicates that a healthcare professional is experiencing an illness, like substance use disorder, that could benefit from long-term, ongoing, and therapeutic support. As substance use disorder is recognized by experts as a chronic, relapsing disease much like cardiac disease, diabetes or asthma, UPHP monitoring is the most effective strategy to support the well-being of healthcare professionals and a compassionate and supportive way to protect the patients they serve. Healthcare professionals who are enrolled in monitoring programs, like UPHP experience recovery and success rates significantly higher than those of the general population—on average, after five years, 78% are still sober and practicing.
What does a "Confidential Program" mean?
At UPHP, “confidentiality” means when a licensee seeks help and is getting the treatment they need and/or under monitoring with UPHP, neither licensing boards nor the public will know about their monitoring, medical diagnosis or treatment details. This information is kept “confidential” and there is no disciplinary action on the licensee’s record. Programs like UPHP encourage the licensee to seek help sooner because it decreases the fear related to losing their license and career for seeking help. Learn more about confidentiality.
The Process
The process of referring or self-reporting to UPHP begins with a phone call, email, or completing an on-line referral form. We accept referrals from any source (including anonymous) and protect the confidentiality and anonymity of referral sources to the fullest extent allowed by law.
UPHP will meet with the healthcare professional to gain perspective of the problem from their point of view, to offer support, resources and referral for evaluation and/or treatment. They will be invited to follow the recommendations of UPHP in seeking specified evaluation and treatment.
Based on the initial screening by UPHP, a Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation or treatment may be recommended. The type of evaluation and treatment recommended depends on the type and severity of the underlying health condition. Evaluation and Treatment are completed by providers or in facilities approved by UPHP.
Re-entry into practice usually occurs following the initial phase of treatment. UPHP works with the treatment provider’s recommendations to establish contractual ground rules for re-entry into practice.
Monitoring is usually a five-year process. It is guided by an individualized monitoring agreement comprised of recommendations from the evaluation and from treatment provider. UPHP offers guidance and accountability in the recommended aspects of each participant’s recovery. Monitoring requirements include:
- Attendance at recommended treatment, aftercare, and therapy
- Random toxicology testing
- Participation in mutual self-help support groups
- Recurrent therapeutic appointments with an assigned Clinical Coordinator
- Meetings with a Board-Certified Addiction Medicine Physician
This model of care, treatment followed by therapeutic monitoring, yields gold standard results. For individuals with a substance use disorder, 78% of program participants complete their 5-year monitoring agreement with never experiencing a relapse, compared to only 25-30% of individuals in the general population at six months of care.
Evidence-based monitoring is the foundation of UPHP’s advocacy efforts. By providing this quality monitoring service, UPHP can confidently advocate that an individual is safe to return to work and continue caring for patients. UPHP Advocacy services include:
- Return to work agreements
- Providing supportive documentation for reinstatement of provider status with insurance companies including state and federal programs
- Addressing employment concerns or new employment opportunities
- Communicating with appropriate individuals in the legal system as requested
- Education
