FAQs
Find answers to common questions about the STL-PHP.
General Questions About The STL-PHP
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Who does the STL-PHP serve?
The STL-PHP serves any St. Louis healthcare professional including, physicians, medical residents, medical students, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, veterinarians, social workers and others.
What types of problems does the STL-PHP address?
The STL-PHP addresses mental and behavioral problems, substance abuse, boundary issues, disruptive behaviors, and personal problems such as family difficulties, stress or career issues.
Does the STL-PHP provide services throughout Missouri?
No, the STL-PHP only serves the St. Louis region at this time.
How does the STL-PHP provide assistance?
The STL-PHP promotes the health and wellness of St. Louis-based healthcare professionals through education and prevention, early detection and intervention, referral for evaluation and treatment, and when appropriate, ongoing monitoring, support, and accountability.
The STL-PHP does NOT provide direct treatment to its professionals.
Is participation with the STL-PHP confidential?
Absolutely. The STL-PHP is committed to ensuring its files are maintained with the highest standards of confidentiality. Communication without consent with any third-party is prohibited by law.
What type of monitoring does STP-PHP provide?
The STL-PHP monitors by verifying that the aftercare recommendations from the treating facility are being followed. Other types of agreements include one-year abstinence agreements and other types of mental health-related issues.
What is advocacy and who does it benefit?
One of the responsibilities of the STL-PHP is to advocate for enrolled healthcare professionals. With the healthcare professional’s written permission, the program provides regular reports to hospitals, practice partners, chiefs of staff, and, when indicated, to the Board of Healing Arts (BHA), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other licensing agencies.
Why does the STL-PHP charge fees? Will my insurance cover the costs?
Since the STL-PHP is an independent, non-profit organization, it does not receive federal nor state funding for program expenses. The STL-PHP is not a health care provider, so it cannot bill any insurance organization for its services.
What is the relationship between the STL-PHP and Missouri regulatory agencies?
The STL-PHP is independent of, and has no direct reporting responsibilities to, the licensure and regulatory agencies, such as the BHA, BNDD, and the DEA. The STL-PHP maintains a positive working relationship with these agencies and thus, can advocate for participants when licensure issues arise.
Common Questions About Third-Party Referrals
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Does the STL-PHP accept voluntary referrals from the workplace?
Most referrals to the STL-PHP are voluntary. The individual healthcare professional can reach out to the STL-PHP directly, or employers/colleagues can contact STL-PHP to make a referral.
Our workplace has concerns surrounding recent behavioral issues of an employee; however, the healthcare professional’s competency and performance do not appear to be affected. Can we still make a referral?
Yes, in fact, evaluation at this phase is very important to identify possible underlying health issues. Even if a health issue is not identified, the STL-PHP might be able to refer for appropriate behavioral improvement.
If our workplace refers an employee to the STL-PHP, is the Board of Healing Arts (BHA) automatically notified?
No. The STL-PHP is a separate organization, independent of the BHA. The STL-PHP only has an obligation to inform the Board in those instances in which there is an immediate potential danger to patients or the physician.
If a colleague is suffering from a health issue, what is the benefit of referring to the STL-PHP instead of directly to a treatment provider?
If STL-PHP is contacted first, then they can begin advocacy and also direct the healthcare professional to the appropriate level of care. The STL-PHP utilizes diagnostic and treatment providers who are experts in identifying and addressing the unique issues healthcare professionals face. When the STL-PHP refers to one of these experts, it also conducts ongoing communication with them during the treatment process.
We Can Help
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Through early intervention and evaluation, we offer professionals the best chance for successful recovery.