Iowa Professional Health Programs

Overview

Definitions

• "Impairment" means an inability to practice with reasonable safety and skill as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, dependency, or addiction, or any mental or physical disorder or disability.
• "Self-report" means the licensee submits written or oral notifications to the appropriate licensing board that the he or she has received, or may receive, a diagnosis as having an impairment.  Self-reports should be submitted before the board receives a complaint or report alleging an impairment.

The Iowa professional health programs were established in 1996 to support licensees who struggle with impairments due to alcohol or drug abuse, mental health conditions, and/or physical disorders.

The professional health programs reviews self-reports made by licensees to determine eligibility for participation. The programs design individualized health contracts to meet the needs of participant.

Confidentiality

State law mandates that information in the possession of the professional health programs remain confidential. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record.

Note: The Iowa professional health programs may refer to the board participants who are not compliant with the terms of their contract for consideration of disciplinary action.  Disciplinary actions are public records.

Why Use the Iowa Professional Health Programs?

The programs encourage practitioners who have impairments to get the help they need. Information received by the programs remains confidential so long as the practitioner complies with the terms of his or her agreement or health contract.

By self-reporting to the professional health programs, the practitioner may avoid formal disciplinary action by the licensing board. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. The boards report disciplinary action to the press, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), insurance companies, and to other state and federal authorities. Participation in the programs is confidential.

Health Contracts

Based upon the recommendation of an approved evaluator, the professional health programs create individualized health contracts, which provides a detailed description of the goals of the program, requirements for successful completion, and the practitioner's obligations.

Note: The Iowa professional health programs may refer to the board participants who are not compliant with the terms of their contract for consideration of disciplinary action.

Mandatory Reporting

Licensees must report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the board. Licensees who fail to report colleagues with a possible impairment may be subject to disciplinary action by the board. Disciplinary actions are public records. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files complaint or report.