This is the note we got from our professional monitoring program. Needless to say, I do not feel good about this, I feel it is reckless, careless, and goes demonstrates the true motivation of the company running the monitoring: Profit.
The team at IPRP is closely monitoring the unfolding national emergency with the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As fellow healthcare workers, I know you all understand the importance of each of us doing our part to help stop the spread of this pathogen. We have been closely monitoring the recommendations put out by the CDC and the Indiana Department of Health, and the guidelines are changing day by day. Below are the modified rules of monitoring that IPRP will observe at this time and please keep in mind that these may change at any time as we learn more.
1. Our work at IPRP will continue during this crisis. Case managers are able to work from home if necessary and are always a phone call or mouse click away.
2. You must continue to check in every day as usual.
3. You are still required to submit a specimen for a drug test when indicated on your daily check-in.
4.It is expected that we as healthcare workers will be among the first exposed to COVID-19 and are not automatically expected to self-quarantine as long as we have been exercising proper precautions at work. If you are instructed to self-quarantine by your physician and cannot leave to take a scheduled drug test please provide documentation to your case manager right away. Timely documentation will be required for us to excuse your test.
5. You must continue to attend your regular number of weekly self-help meetings but you may choose to attend virtually if you like. Although the CDC does not recommend avoiding small groups (less than 50) at this time, we feel it is completely reasonable if you chose to avoid them. There are hundreds of online support meetings each day, you should have no trouble finding one that suits your needs.
6. New intake meetings and scheduled visits to IPRP will be modified as needed to be done remotely via teleconference. In-person meetings at our offices are still allowed when both the case manager and client (you) are not under self-quarantine, have no known recent exposure to someone with COVID-19 and have no fever or respiratory symptoms. Communicate with your case manager or the Program Director prior to visiting the office.
We will work with you in any way we can to help you remain sober and stay in compliance with your monitoring agreement during this time. And remember that Addiction, Depression, and PTSD kill hundreds of thousands of people each year. Our work will continue, and we ask that you please remain steadfast in your pursuit of sobriety and wellness.
Sincerely
THE RECOVERY PROGRAM MEDICAL DIRECTOR
In summary, this profit driven company in contract with the Indiana State Board of Nursing does not care if you expose yourself to waiting rooms with dozens of people waiting to see a doctor while you take a drug test. THEY THEMSELVES ARE are isolating at home, but since you are a health care worker, your going to be exposed anyway, and if you get it, you get it. Never mind Personal Protective Equipment available in hospitals that aren't available in public. And since depression, ptsd, and addiction kill more people, its OK if we take the chance by exposing you to COVID-19 BECAUSE ITS JUST NOT AS BIG OF A DEAL.
I am in the NJ program (RAMP), and they are testing us more (3+ times per month) during the pandemic--testings sites are being shut down and/or consolidated, limiting access. We are putting others at risk (as I work in a covid-ridden hospital) and ourselves by going to these highly frequented locations.
I bet these programs are already preparing their sticky fingers for the fallout from pandemic in hope of absorbing nurses subjected to secondary trauma/PTSD. I am utterly disgusted, but sadly, not surprised.
Stay safe everyone ❤️
Wait, what?!?! They are testing you MORE OFTEN now? How does that even make sense? Do they think you are going to drive/use because of a pandemic? I'm so confused......
Yeah it’s a shame but in the weird land of adversarial “recovery” the more they think they test you the less chance you are breaking the rules and oh yeah their lab buddies are probably hurting now because not too many outpatient tests are being ordered. Gotta keep our lab pals flush with cash. Also the more more hoops you gotta jump through the bigger the chance that you mess up somehow and they can extend your contract which also keeps the cash flowing.
like they said in the watergate investigation many years ago “follow the money....”
@rn1965 beats me?! They won't give us an answer and they claim they "aren't testing us more"....but I have NEVER gotten 3 tests, 3 months in a row. Can't wait to write an expose (under an alias of course)
rn1965, ADN
514 Posts
Wait, what?!?! They are testing you MORE OFTEN now? How does that even make sense? Do they think you are going to drive/use because of a pandemic? I'm so confused......