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Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery
Network(TPRN)
Why and How TPA is involved in this program:
Health care professionals, including pharmacists, are at risk for chemical
dependency for reasons including increased stress and burnout and easier access to drugs. Impairment creates major problems, not just for personal
lives and careers, but in the potential harm which can be inflicted upon the patients who trust their health and lives to the dependability of the
pharmacist's services. Recognizing this, and in genuine concern for both the impaired professional and the integrity of the profession, Tennessee
Pharmacists Association has a vigorous program to provide assistance to impaired colleagues. This page contains some of the guidelines by which TPA's Pharmacists Recovery Network Committee operates and other
information you might find helpful if you suspect chemical dependency or other impairment in either yourself or in a colleague.
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:
- Voluntarily (self identification)
- Fellow professionals
- Non-professional co-workers
- Concerned family members
- Referral from the Board of Pharmacy
- Concerned patients/customers
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:
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Defining the extent of impairment
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Identifying the resources (location, time, money) which the impaired pharmacist has available to facilitate his/her treatment
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Assisting in making contacts with employers, physicians, and treatment centers to facilitate the treatment of the impaired pharmacist
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.
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Each pharmacist an advocate is in contact with must have a form on which the entire documentation of interaction is maintained.
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Information is to be kept current and periodically forwarded to the TPA office.
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Each contact with a pharmacist in the program must be documented.
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Each program participant must be contacted at least once a month.
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A copy of all medical reports, laboratory test results, prescriptions, etc., must be forwarded to the TPA office.
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Recorded information cannot be oversimplified just to meet the above requirements. At least enough detail should be provided so a third
party will be able to be fully informed without having been a party to the conversation.
ESTABLISHING ADVOCACY
In order for the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network to be an advocate for a recovering pharmacist, the recovering pharmacist must:
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Voluntarily sign a contract with the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network.
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Sign an authorization for release to the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network of all pertinent information by physicians and other health care providers.
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Comply with all terms of the contract.
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Submit to testing of urine on request.
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Identify their primary care physician and authorize him/her to release information to the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network on request.
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Have urine samples performed by the designated laboratory of the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network.
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Provide documentation of attendance at meetings.
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:
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Successfully complete a program designed to treat impaired health care professionals at a committee approved treatment site.
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Sign and follow a standard aftercare contract with the Tennessee Pharmacists Recovery Network for a minimum of sixty (60) months post-treatment.
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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TENNESSEE PHARMACIST
PHARMACY RECOVERY
NETWORK COMMITTEE - 2008
IF YOU NEED HELP OR KNOW
AN ASSOCIATE WHO DOES,
PLEASE CALL
615.256.3023
(outside Nashville area,
call collect)
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Baeteena Black, D.Ph.
Program Director Nashville, TN w: (615) 256-3023
bblack@tnpharm.org
Kenny Archer, D. Ph.
Sweetwater, TN
w: (423) 337-5813
archer56@chartertn.net
Vance J. Argo, D.Ph.
Paris, TN
w: (731) 642-0451
vjargo@charter.net
Edwin R. Bills, D.Ph.
Knoxville, TN
w: (865) 541-8123
ebills@Comcast.net
John Bonnell, D.Ph.
Kingsport, TN
w: (423) 639-7172
pharmdoc@hotmail.com
Larry Branstetter, D.
Ph.
Baxter, TN
w: (931) 526-2011
branstetter@twlakes.net
Catherine Campbell
Gearin, D. Ph.
Martin, TN
w: (731) 288-5065
dcg004@charter.net
Jeff Casey, D.Ph.
Chattanooga, TN
w: (423) 495-8981
jeffreyacasey@yahoo.com
Jeff Christian, D.Ph.
Kingsport, TN
w: (423) 378-7311
cjc3333@hotmail.com
Tommy E. Crosslin,
Jr., D.Ph.
Sparta, TN
w: (931) 403-2135
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Hunter Culbertson,
D.Ph.
Murfreesboro, TN
w: (615) 890-1583
huntc5582@yahoo.com
Raymond Frederick, D.Ph.
Knoxville, TN
w: (865) 435-3333
rymndfrederick@yahoo.com
Kevin R. Hartman,
Pharm.D.
Nolensville, TN
w: (615) 371-1210
kevin@rxfd.com
Janet Hicks, D.Ph.
Knoxville, TN
w: (865) 970-7747
janethicks@cornerstoneofrecovery.com
Randall W. Jean,
D.Ph.
Lewisburg, TN
w: (931) 359-2980
randalldonnajean@bellsouth.net
Don L. Jones, D. Ph.
Hixson, TN
w: (423) 495-7137
don_jones@memorial.org
Tina R. Posey, D. Ph.
Lebanon, TN
w: (615) 826-4022
tinaposey317@hotmail.com
Kimberly Roberts,
Pharm.D.
Manchester, TN
w: (931) 728-1100
kimroberts@charterinternet.com
Jennifer Spivey, Pharm.D.
w: (731) 986-4009
scottnjenspivey@yahoo.com
Cliff G. Weiss, D.Ph.
Clarksville, TN
w: (931) 645-2494
debtitan@aol.com
Barry T. Williams, D.
Ph.
Bartlett, TN
w: (901) 495-2055
btullw1@aol.com
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