Help please - Need advice on dealing with Michigan HPRP

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Hello,

I'm at my wits end because I'm dealing with the Michigan HPRP (Health Professionals Recovery Program) and now the Nursing Board after being reported for substance abuse after a NEGATIVE screening.

Here's the story; in March I applied for a job at a hospital and was refered to a third party screening lab. I had recently had severe stomach pains that had put me in the hospital, which my doctor believed could have been severe gastritis or the beginnings of an ulcer. He prescribed Vicodin 5mg as needed and Aciphex for severe reflux that I had also been having.

At the same time I'd been have very severe migraines, so he felt that the narcotic was justified. I didn't even take that much of the Vicodin, just enough to let me sleep, and to get me through the Aciphex taking effect and helping with my stomach issues. Those issues have pretty much resolved themselves, although for some time I was having relapses and my doctor would treat with pain meds and aciphex.

Because I had a script and I had taken ONE vicodin a week or two before I went in and took the script and my history into the center and showed them to the doctor. After recieving a negative report as to narcotic use, he ordered another test and told me he needed my doctor to write a note saying why he had prescribed the pain meds. My doctor was on vacation, but his partner complied. Again, I tested negative for any drugs. The doctor was exceptionally rude to me and insisted that I had some sort of drug problem. I tried my best to explain that I didn't, gave him my full history, and showed him a month old bottle that was almost full, trying to show that I had only taken a few of the pain meds as needed, and he made several remarks about women and being able to tell when they were lying.

I called the hospital's HR department to report the behavior of the doctor and was met with complete disinterest. I called the nursing supervisor who had just a week before been excited to hire me and got nowhere and told them that I would be turning down the job.

I went on to get a job at a larger hospital here, and again, passed the drug screen and told them that I had a script and they recorded the info and I was negative for anything so they hired me and I've been working there with no problems for seven months now.

However, I recieved a letter from the HPRP saying that the other hospital, who I had never worked for, had reported me and that I would have to undergo an intake and monitoring because of suspected substance abuse.

I tested negative once again but the intake person marked down that according to their information I didn't have significant reason to have a script for narcotics and that I showed signs of "anxiety". Well, yes, I did. I was terrified because I had done nothing wrong and was being treated as a drug addict, of COURSE I was anxious. I only graduated with my RN in January and suddenly I'm being told they can take it away because, again, of a NEGATIVE drug screen.

I don't understand this and I'm very concerned. I don't know how to follow this up. I refuse to go through a monitoring program when I don't have a problem (which they see as me saying I have a problem) but I don't see how a company I NEVER worked for and that recieved only NEGATIVE samples can report me to DCH and this HPRP for substance abuse.

Where do I go from here? How can I fight it? I now have a formal complaint due to refusing the HPRP and fighting them, so now I have to deal with the DCH, something I never dreamed would happen. How do I get them to see that this is for a NEGATIVE drug screen and is coming from people I never worked for?

I'm feeling horribly lost right now over this whole thing.

-Claire

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Get a lawyer ASAP!

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The only legal advice members are allowed to give on this board is to advise you to see an attorney. You can find a nurse attorney through The American Assn. of Nurse Attorneys. Good luck.

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Get a lawyer ASAP!

Is there a specific type of lawyer I need to contact? Is there a way of finding one who handles cases like these?

I'm also a Union member at the hospital I work at now, so I suppose I could ask my rep, but I have to admit I'm feeling horrifically embarrased and ashamed by this whole thing and would rather not have to involve anyone at my new work.

I'm just utterly dumbfounded by this. I don't mean any disrespect to the people that programs like HPRP help, but I don't see how they can report me for negative tests, which is a question no one has been able to answer.

-Claire

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The only legal advice members are allowed to give on this board is to advise you to see an attorney. You can find a nurse attorney through The American Assn. of Nurse Attorneys. Good luck.

That's the information I needed, thank you.

-Claire

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Specializes in Acute Hemodialysis, Cardiac, ICU, OR.
Is there a specific type of lawyer I need to contact? Is there a way of finding one who handles cases like these?

You need an Administrative Attorney, preferably one who has experience with the Board. Your Union representatives are a good source, or you might try looking for listings in whatever city your Board is located.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Get an Employment attorney ASAP!!!

ebear

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Specializes in ER Occ Health Urgent Care.

Yes, get an attorney ASAP but you must go to any appointments with heathcare recovery. I would also file a complaint against the doctor who reported you clearly he has issues. What a horrible thing this doctor has done to you. He should not be a medical review officer.

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I've read reports where during a medical history review, a MD has written that a patient has an alcohol abuse problem if they admit to drinking more than one drink per day. There have been reports of people actually having their drivers license revoked based on an MD's report, which had nothing to do with the patients health problem.

If Witch Hunts are this bad for non-nurses, just imagine the Fire of the Hunt if you are a nurse.

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google michigan pharmacy lawyer

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By now you have probably resolved your problem. If you are confident that you do not have a drug problem have an evaluation by a board certified addiction psychiatrist who is an HPRP provider. Do not tell him you have already been reported to HPRP. Do not tell HPRP you are having the evaluation done. If you do not have a drug problem the evaluation by the psychiatrist will reflect this. If HPRP states that you must have an evaluation or they will turn you over to the state board, you will ALREADY have had an evaluation done by one of their own certified doctors showing that you do NOT need treatment. If they continue to pressure you to enter the HPRP treatment and monitoring program, ask to have your case turned over to your state medical board. The state medical board will order another evaluation at it's own expense, but since you already have an evaluation that does not show an addiction or impairment problem the second doctor is very unlikely to reverse the first doctor's opinion. Ray Garza is in charge of the administration of the Michigan HPRP and can be very helpful.

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By now you have probably resolved your problem. If you are confident that you do not have a drug problem have an evaluation by a board certified addiction psychiatrist who is an HPRP provider. Do not tell him you have already been reported to HPRP. Do not tell HPRP you are having the evaluation done. If you do not have a drug problem the evaluation by the psychiatrist will reflect this. If HPRP states that you must have an evaluation or they will turn you over to the state board, you will ALREADY have had an evaluation done by one of their own certified doctors showing that you do NOT need treatment. If they continue to pressure you to enter the HPRP treatment and monitoring program, ask to have your case turned over to your state medical board. The state medical board will order another evaluation at it's own expense, but since you already have an evaluation that does not show an addiction or impairment problem the second doctor is very unlikely to reverse the first doctor's opinion. Ray Garza is in charge of the administration of the Michigan HPRP and can be very helpful.

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