IPHP Committee — Dental

Iowa Professional Health Program

The goal of the Iowa Professional Health Program (IPHP) is to provide confidential, supportive monitoring that facilitates recovery in a manner that allows licensees to successfully practice their profession. The IPHP uses a system of accountability that is non-disciplinary. The IPHP believes that early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring provide the best outcomes for licensees, registrants, and their patients or clients. 

• Additional information about the IPHP is available here.

Definitions

To better understand the objective of the IPHP committee, it is important that everyone understands what the program means when referring to “impairment” and “self-report.”

• "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 providing written or oral notifications to the board that the licensee has received or may receive a diagnosis as having an impairment before the board's receiving a complaint or report alleging an impairment before the date of self-report.

Access the form to file a self-report here.

IPHP Committee — Dental

The chairperson of the Iowa Dental Board appoints the members of the IPHP committee for dental professionals. The committee includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• The executive director of the board, or the director's designee from the board's staff;
• A licensed dentist or dental hygienist who has remained free of addiction for two or more years after completing a recovery program for drug or alcohol dependency, addiction, or abuse;
• A physician or counselor with expertise in substance abuse/addiction treatment programs;
• A psychiatrist or psychologist; and
• A public member.

The committee reviews and monitors self-reports made by licensees of the Iowa Dental Board to determine eligibility for participation. The committee designs an individualized health contract to meet the needs of the licensee.

Meeting Dates

• March 26, 2025
• June 25, 2025 (Teleconference)
• September 24, 2025
• December 17, 2026 (Teleconference)

Criteria for Participation in the Program

The IPHP committee determines whether practitioners are eligible to participate in the program. A person may be ineligible to take part in the program for any of the following reasons:

• The practitioner engaged in the unlawful diversion or distribution of controlled illegal substances to a third party, or for personal gain or profit;
• The practitioner is already under a board order;
• The practitioner has caused harm or injury to a patient;
• The board is investigating the practitioner that concerns serious matters related to the practitioner's competence;
• The practitioner failed to provide truthful information or refused to cooperate with the board or the IPHP committee; or
• The practitioner has been subject to a civil administrative or criminal sanction for serious infractions of law, professional ethics, or administrative rules related to the practice.

When Should a Dental Professional Self-Report to the IPRC?

If any of the following apply, it is in that licensee's best interest to self-report to IPHP as soon as possible:

• Charged with, and/or arrested for OWI, or for another alcohol or drug related offense;
• Disciplined by another federal or state agency for alcohol or drug abuse;
• Evaluated or treated for a substance use disorder, or is currently enrolled in a recovery program;
• Diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or a physical health condition;
• Practiced after drinking alcohol or taking an illegal or mind/mood altering substance;
• Addiction/dependence on drugs, alcohol or prescription medication; and/or
• Urged by friend(s), family or colleagues to get help for alcohol or drug abuse, or a mental or physical condition.

Access the form to file a self-report here.

Confidentiality

Iowa law mandates that information in the possession of the IPHP remain confidential with few exceptions. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record. The confidentiality requirements prohibit licensing boards from having access to IPHP records or related information.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

• Licensees and registrants must report their participation to other state(s) in which they are licensed or applying for licensure.
• The IPHP can collaborate with the participant’s treatment team throughout the duration of the contract.
• The IPHP can report a participant’s non-compliance with his/her IPHP contract to the Iowa Dental Board for consideration of disciplinary action. Disciplinary action, if taken, is a public record.
• The IPHP can communicate information to the Iowa Dental Board if there is a significant risk to the public.

By self-reporting, the licensee may avoid formal disciplinary action. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. 

Healthcare practitioners are obligated to report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the board. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files a complaint or report.

Ways to Reach Out to the IPHP Committee for Dental Professionals

• Submit the self-report form online.
• Contact IPHP staff using the contact information below.

IPHP Forms & Resources

• IPRC Self-Report Form
• Quarterly Report: IPRC Participant