Many Pennsylvania medical professionals struggle with substance abuse. If you count yourself among them, you may have valid concerns about your dependency potentially threatening your ability to work as a doctor, nurse, or another type of licensed professional. Depending on circumstances, Pennsylvania’s Professional Health Monitoring Programs may give you a way through which to continue to work in the medical field even if you face disciplinary proceedings.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the state’s Professional Health Monitoring Programs maintain a Disciplinary Monitoring Unit.
How the DMU works
You may be able to work with the state’s DMU if the state board that issued your nursing license or other professional license takes disciplinary action against you. If you are able to work with the DMU, you should expect to have to undergo substance abuse treatment and submit to drug tests and other possible forms of structured monitoring. The main point of the DMU is to provide you with the tools you need to overcome your dependency and work in the medical field without posing a threat to patient safety.
How the DMU helps
Pennsylvania’s DMU refers you to state-approved treatment providers so that you may undergo any number of different forms of treatment. The DMU then continues to watch you to make sure that you are abstaining from substance abuse and able to safely practice medicine, operate on patients or otherwise work in the medical field.
If you are able to continue to work in the field by working in cooperation with the DMU, your enrollment may depend on you upholding certain terms, conditions and compliance requirements.