Established by the 1997 General Assembly
Title 54.1, Chapter 25.1 of the Code of Virginia
GOALS:
To raise public awareness regarding the recognition of impaired practitioners and available services
To increase identification of impairment and encourage treatment and recovery.
To assist participants with obtaining comprehensive assessment and to develop recovery monitoring contracts that address the medical, psychiatric and substance abuse treatment needs of the participants.
To provide comprehensive, timely and effective monitoring services to participants.
To provide public education about addiction in healthcare professionals and their participation in the Health Practitioners' Intervention Program.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
Intake
Assessment
Development of Monitoring Contracts
Treatment Referral
Monitoring Services
Appropriate Advocacy for Board Issues
Alcohol and Drug Toxicity Screens
WHO DOES HPIP SERVE?
The Virginia Health Practitioners Intervention Program is open to any person who is licensed, certified, registered or an applicant who is otherwise fully eligible for licensure, certification or registration by a health regulatory board within the Virginia Department of Health Professions
Virginia DHP Boards
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Counseling
Dentistry
Funeral Directors and Embalmers
Medicine
Nursing
Nursing Home Administrators
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Psychology
Social Work
Veterinary Medicine
OPERATION:
The Intervention Program Committee, comprised of licensed health care providers who are not Board members, is appointed by the Director of the Department of Health Professions to oversee the program.
The Committee is authorized by law to approve a request for stay of disciplinary action that meets the eligibility requirements when submitted by the contractor on behalf of a participant.
HISTORY:
In its 1997 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation creating a Health Practitioners' Intervention Program ("HPIP"). The Virginia Department of Health Professions has contracted with the VCU Health System Department of Psychiatry Division of Addiction Psychiatry to provide services under this legislation. The Services provided by HPIP may offer impaired practitioners an alternative to disciplinary action by Virginia regulatory boards.
Impaired health practitioners are defined as having "any physical or mental disability which substantially alters the ability of a practitioner to practice his or her profession with safety to his/her patients and the public."
A network of qualified service providers has been established throughout Virginia.
Ongoing projects include informational and training presentations about the HPIP Program and chemical dependence in health practitioners to:
Professional healthcare teaching facilities Peer assistance groups Healthcare organizations Educational programs
