Research about PHPs and Health Professionals

FSPHP strongly advocates for the use of empirical data to understand physician health program outcomes and continually works with our PHP member programs and subject matter experts to move this effort forward.


Essential components of physician health program monitoring for substance use disorder: A survey of participants 5 years post successful program completion
A January 2022 article authored by FSPHP Research Committee Co-Chair Dr. Lisa Merlo and published in the Journal on Addictions describes elements of successful professional health monitoring programs (PHPs) from the perspective of former participants 5+ years after completion of their monitoring agreement for substance use disorder (SUD)--i.e., after 10+ years of recovery. The results provide preliminary evidence of the long-term sustainability of treatment success among PHP participants, and document the particular importance of engaging with the PHP, formal SUD treatment, participation in 12-step programs, and random drug testing to achieve these outcomes. 
Thank you to the PHP staff from Idaho, Indiana, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, and Washington who assisted with contacting potential participants for this study, as well as to the physicians who participated by completing the survey.


Success Rates of Monitoring for Healthcare Professionals with a Substance Use Disorder: A Meta-Analysis - January 2021
This investigation highlights the limitations of prior studies demonstrating effectiveness of HCP monitoring programs and serves as an important guide for future research to update and improve upon the evidence-base.  FSPHP is pursuing such research and welcomes funding and collaborative partnerships with investigators interested in physician health. Click here for the FSPHP Research Guidelines.  The article emphasis that the results look consistent (and consistently good). The limitations about the lack of randomized or quasi-experimental studies described exists because there are ethical issues that prevent those studies from being done.


Alcoholics Anonymous and Other 12‐Step Programs for Alcohol Use Disorder
by John F Kelly, PhD, Keith Humphreys, PhD, Marica Ferri, PhD
March 2020, Cochrane Library


A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Review of Resident Care-Seeking at a Physician Health Program
by Amanda L. Parry, Elizabeth Brooks, PhD, Sarah R. Early, PsyD
October 2018

Helping the Healer: Population-Informed Workplace Wellness Recommendations for Physician Well-being
by Brooks E, Early SE, Gendel, MD, Miller L, Gundersen DC. 
March 2018 

When Doctors Struggle: Current Stressors and Evaluation Recommendations for Physicians Contemplating Suicide
by Elizabeth Brooks, PhD, Michael H. Gendel, MD, Sarah R. Early & Doris C. Gundersen, MD
January 2018

Investing in Physicians Is Investing in Patients: Enhancing Patient Safety through Physician Health and Well-being Research
by Elizabeth Brooks, PhD, Doris C. Gundersen, MD, Michael H. Gendel, MD
July 2017

Challenging Cognitive Cases among Physician Populations: Case Vignettes and Recommendations
by E. Brooks, M. H. Gendel, A. L. Parry, S. Humphreys, S. R. Early 
September 2016

Physician Health Programmes and Malpractice Claims: Reducing Risk through Monitoring
by E. Brooks, M. H. Gendel, D. C. Gundersen, S. R. Early, R. Schirrmacher, A. Lembitz, J. H. Shore
April 2013

Self-Prescribed and Other Informal Care Provided by Physicians: Scope, Correlations and Implications
by Gendel MH, Brooks E, Early SR, Gundersen DC, Dubovsky SL, Dilts SL, Shore JH
May 2012

Comparing Substance Use Monitoring and Treatment Variations among Physician Health Programs
by Brooks E, Early SR, Gundersen DC, Shore JH, Gendel MH
Jul-Aug 2012

Physician Boundary Violations in a Physician’s Health Program: A 19-Year Review
by Brooks E, Gendel MH, Early SR, Gundersen DC, Shore JH
2012

Prognosis for the Recovery of Surgeons from Chemical Dependency: A 5-Year Outcome Study
by Amanda Buhl, MPH; Michael R. Oreskovich, MD; Charles W. Meredith, MD; Michael D. Campbell, PhD; Robert L. DuPont, MD
November 2011

Anesthesiologists with Substance Use Disorders: A 5-Year Outcome Study from 16 State Physician Health Programs
by Gregory E. Skipper, MD,  Michael D. Campbell, PhD,  Robert L. DuPont, MD
September 2009

How are Addicted Physicians Treated? A National Survey of Physician Health Programs 
by Robert L. DuPont M.D., A. Thomas McLellan Ph.D., Gary Carr M.D., Michael Gendel M.D., Gregory E.Skipper M.D.
July 2009 

Tobacco Use by Physicians in a Physician Health Program, Implications for Treatment and Monitoring
by Stuyt EB, Gundersen DC, Shore JH, Brooks E, Gendel MH
Mar-Apr 2009

Setting the Standard for Recovery: Physicians' Health Programs
bRobert L.DuPont, MD, A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, William L. White MA, Lisa J. Merlo, PhD, Mark S. Gold, MD
March 2009

Five Year Outcomes in a Cohort Study of Physicians Treated for Substance Use Disorders in the United States
by AT McLellan, GS Skipper, M Campbell, RL DuPont
August 2008

Outcomes of a Monitoring Program for Physicians with Mental and Behavioral Health Problems
by John R. Knight, MD, Luis T. Sanchez, MD, Lon Sherritt, MPH, Linda R. Bresnahan, MS, John A. Fromson, MD
January 2007

Risk Factors for Relapse in Health Care Professionals with Substance Use Disorders
by Karen B. Domino, MD, MPHThomas F. Hornbein, MDNayak L. Polissar, PhDGinger RennerJilda JohnsonScott AlbertiLynn Hankes, MD
March 2005

Monitoring Physician Drug Problems:  Attitudes of Participants
by John R. Knight MD, Luis T. Sanchez MD, Lon Sherritt MPH, Linda R. Bresnahan MS, Jennifer M. Silveria BA & John A. Fromson MD
January 2002