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Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network(TPRN)
Why and How TPA is involved in this program:
Policies and Procedures Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network PURPOSE The purpose of the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network is to provide a program which will assist pharmacists and their families in identifying alcohol, drug, or behavioral medical problems which pose a potential threat to that pharmacist, his/her family, or his/her patients. Further, the committee will work to identify and facilitate acute treatment and to provide long term support for the pharmacist practitioner to return to a productive place within the profession. The program will provide no direct counseling, treatment, or after care services but will rely on the services of professional providers in the community. The program supports and endorses the development of self-help groups at the local level. Costs of these services are solely the responsibility of the pharmacists seeking help. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network is provided as a service by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association in cooperation with the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and with the support of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. The program will operate under the direction of members of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association who shall be identified from those members having treatment experience in this area, recovering pharmacists, or pharmacists volunteering for such service. Additionally, the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network may solicit participation from other pharmacists as necessary. Recovering pharmacists on the committee shall have a minimum of two years continuous recovery and be active in a support group. PROGRAM COORDINATION An impaired pharmacist may enter into this particular program by identification through any of the following:
PROCEDURES I. Identification of impaired pharmacists will be made by contacting the office of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. The initiating contact should be directed to (615) 256-3023 and persons outside the Nashville area may call collect. The person who initiates the call must supply all information including the name of the impaired practitioner, reasons to suspect impairment, attempts which have been made to bring the problem to the attention of the impaired pharmacist, and other pertinent inform-ation. If the reporting individual so desires they may identify themselves and provide a phone number for additional follow-up. In the caseof anonymous calls, the call will be noted after information has been provided. In all cases, confidentiality of the record will be maintained. When the initiating report is received by a regional coordinator first, he/she will immediately provide such information to the TPA office coordination of verification efforts. II. The Program Director of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association after documenting the call, will contact the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network and the pharmacist who will act as the regional coordinator. The staff member will provide all information to these individuals so that appropriate follow-up to verify the impairment may be conducted. III. The Program Director working with the regional coordinator will verify the information which has been received. IV. Once verification of the impairment has been made, the regional coordinator and a recovering pharmacist will confront the impaired practitioner. The intent will be to cause the practitioner to recognize the problem and seek appropriate treatment. It must be remembered that the intent of this program is to direct impaired individuals to treatment facilities and to be supportive of their rehabilitation. Visits will be made promptly (usually in less than four weeks). No more than three visits will be made. V. Regional coordinators will work with recovering pharmacists in their geographic region during the intervention and treatment phase. When a potentially impaired pharmacist is contacted by the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network, it will always be done by no less than two individuals. VI. When the pharmacist is confronted with the problem and he/she denies that such problem exists, the committee has no recourse except to drop further pursuit of that case. At that point a report will be written which will state the facts of the case and be maintained in a confidential file. VII. If on intervention the impaired pharmacist requests help, the regional coordinator will assist by making recommendations for treatment. Those recommendations will include, but are not limited to:
VIII. The regional coordinators will continue to monitor the treatment process of the impaired pharma-cist for a period of five years. The regional coordinators may periodically request information from the treatment program as to the progress of the individual and special need which may have been identified. If the referral of the impaired pharmacist originated with the Board of Pharmacy the regional coordinator may make periodic reports to the Board regarding the progress of the practi-tioner. The regional coordinator may additionally request the results of hearings which will be conducted by the Board of Pharmmacy in regard to an identified pharmacist who has been a partici-pant in this program. The regional coordinator may at his discretion provide a status report to potential employers of the impaired pharmacist in an effort to facilitate his/her re-entry into the profession after receiving in writing a request and permission from the involved pharmacist. RECORDS All records pertaining to a specific impaired pharmacist case will be maintained in a secure and confidential area within the office of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. Only those persons involved in direct review of the recovery with the impaired pharmacist will be allowed access to the actual identity of the impaired practitioner. At the initiation of the acute pharse of treatment, all records will be sent to the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. During the period of follow-up, periodic reports may be filed to be added to the impaired pharmacist's file. RELATIONSHIP TO BOARD OF PHARMACY The Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network cannot report the impairment of a practitioner to the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. However, if in the process of verification of the impairment, evidence is found that Tennessee statutes have been violated or the situation endangers public safety, the person initiating the report will be advised to contact the Board of Pharmacy. The Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network has no regulatory responsibility. MALPRACTICE/LIABILITY INSURANCE The Association will continually conduct a legal review of all aspects of the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network. The purpose is to ensure there is adequate protection for all Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network participants against possible malpractice/liability claims. EDUCATION AND RESOURCES All participants in the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network will attempt to maintain a competency in the treatment area of drug and alcohol dependence by attendance at specialized programs on these topics. Information on these topics will be disseminated to the Association's membership through its regular publica-tions and state and district meetings. The Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network will maintain a current file of information on alcoholism treatment services and other resources. MEETINGS The Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network will meet at least once every four months in order to maintain a viable program. All parties who are interested may be involved in such meetings in an attempt to discuss successful techniques in intervention and treatment. A comparison of outcomes will be made at these meet-ings to identify successful treatment methods. On an annual basis the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network will submit a comprehensive report to the Association membership. All reports will be statistical and will not breach confidentiality. REQUIREMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS The following documentation and communication standards have been identified to be able to respond to the needs of impaired pharmacists and to minimize the liability of the Committee and the Association.
ESTABLISHING ADVOCACY In order for the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network to be an advocate for a recovering pharmacist, the recovering pharmacist must:
Failure to comply with the terms established in the contract will result in the loss of advocacy. REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN ADVOCACY Any pharmacist seeking advocacy concerning recovery from impairment due to chemical dependency must:
To obtain advocacy, there are no exceptions to the above. If advocacy is not needed, the Tennessee Pharma-cists Recovery Network will provide information on other treatment modalities, but it has been our experi-ence that other approaches to chemical dependency result in higher rates of relapse. CONTINUING ADVOCACY Successfully Completed/Relapse In the situation where a pharmacist who has successfully completed the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network relapses, a complete re -evaluation of the pharmacist by an approved treatment program will be requested and required before accepting the pharmacist for advocacy. Further, the recommendations of the treatment program will be required. Urine Screens For pharmacists who have signed an aftercare contract, a urine screen shall be performed as determined by the advocate. Meeting Attendance Pharmacists who have signed an aftercare contract shall maintain a record verifying attendance at all required meetings. Signature of the meeting coordinator is required. This record of meeting attendance shall be submitted to the pharmacist's advocate monthly.
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