SUBSTANCE-IMPAIRED PHYSICIANS PROBATIONARY AND VOLUNTARY TREATMENT PROGRAMS COMPARED

We compared the characteristics and treatment outcomes of substance-im paired physicians monitored by two different programs in Oregon: a pro bationary program administered by the Oregon Board of Medical Examiner s and the confidential, voluntary Diversion Program for Health Profess ionals. Demographic, substance use, and treatment outcome variables we re obtained by a retrospective medical record review from 41 physician s monitored by the Oregon board and 56 physicians monitored by the div ersion program during a 3-year study period. Compared with physicians monitored by the Oregon board, physicians in the diversion program wer e younger, more likely to be in training programs and less likely to b e in hospital-based practice settings, more often reported by immediat e rather than third-party contacts, more likely to choose in-state inp atient treatment than out-of-state treatment, and less likely to have concurrent mental illness diagnoses (P < .05 for all comparisons). Sho rt-term relapse rates did not differ statistically between the groups (22.0% for the Oregon board group, 14.3% for the diversion program gro up). The higher number of younger physicians and physicians in trainin g and tendency toward increased reporting by immediate contacts in the diversion program suggested earlier intervention than in the Oregon b oard group.