Published Jul 20, 2016
SororAKS, ADN, RN
720 Posts
http://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/state-physician-health-programs-require-national-standards-and-externaloversight-2378-5756-1000346.php?aid=65807
Although this is specifically referring to physician monitoring programs, I think this speaks to issues that are quite relevant to nurse monitoring programs (and State Boards of Nursing, for that matter).
The initial formation of the monitoring programs and their subsequent relationships with the regulatory agencies may have been altruistic and have in fact saved the lives and careers of many healthcare professionals. But what concerns me is the fact that there is little to no oversight of either these programs and the relationships they have with the regulatory agencies.
Not to mention the regulatory agencies themselves, but that's another topic (see Can a Nurse Be Disciplined in Every State), that also points to problematic policies that unnecessarily and punitively punish nurses. I am unsure if this is true for physicians, but it probably wouldn't be difficult to find out.
To conclude, I am posting this to let those here know we aren't the only ones that question these rather icky potential conflicts of interest.
state-physician-health-programs-require-national-standards-and-externaloversight-2378-5756-10003.pdf
Here's another article: Are PHPs Still In Our Corner? - Emergency Physicians Monthly
Again, its tailored to physicians, but it speaks to issues those who post on this subsection face. I've also not been able to find much in nursing journal publications on this topic.
If anyone HAS found info on this in pubs tailored to nurses, please provide the links or PM me. Thank you.
I wish I'd known some of the points covered in the "Are PHP's still in our corner?" when I first started on this rocky road. It would've saved me a lot of grief.