Physician Health e-Letter

The Physician Health e-Letter is a new publication of the American Medical Association. Here's some information from the AMA:

Our goal for this monthly publication is to offer news, updates, and information related to physician health, including wellness, stress (caused by practice and personal concerns alike), burnout, addiction, depression, duty hours, impairment, and suicide.

To read the first issue (August 2010), click here (PDF).  Speaking about physician health, don't forget that there's a great resource out there called http://ephysicianhealth.com/

Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP)

I've worked with physicians who've needed help for mental health and/or substance abuse problems.  Some have lost their medical license. Others have been asked to leave medical school. 

Almost every state has a physician health/assistance program (PHP or PAP) that also provides services and advocacy support for medical students, residents, physician assistants, and physicians who may have suffer from mental health problems, substance abuse, drinking, addictions, legal problems, etc. These physicians are often "impaired" and they may lose their ability to practice medicine. They may lose hospital privileges. They may get dismissed from medical school. They may be asked to leave residency. They may lose their medical license.  If they're treatable, then perhaps they can regain entry into the medical system.