IThe Missouri Physicians Health Program is a 501c (3) not-for-profit organization. We have no statutory authority and are not part of the regulatory system. We receive no governmental funding. This is why we reach out to the medical community for support. This is part of our effort to keep the cost of our program at a minimum. When we assist physicians, it is our intention to help them in any way we can.

The Missouri Physicians Health Program has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Missouri Board of Healing Arts. It is our desire to work closely with them, but not for them. They set the standards for what is required when a physician is being investigated and are rendering their decision. Their website provides a list of approved treatment and evaluation programs which we utilize. We primarily utilize this resource. Please note that there are a few approved programs available in Missouri. At this time, however, there are no residential programs for professionals in this state. To meet the standards of the board, we usually refer to programs outside of Missouri, which increases the cost to that physician. What we offer are recommendations, not demands.

Often, we are asked to assist very troubled people. No matter what assistance they receive, it may not be acceptable to them. This represents a very small number of referrals, but it can be very problematic for the MPHP. These clients do have options, but options are often limited by the demands of the referral source.

The MPHP, with consent of the referred physician, will provide a report to the referring organization. No report is made to anyone if it is not requested by the self-referred physician.

Just as mental health practitioners, we, like the physicians we serve, must report homicidal or suicidal ideations, sexual abuse of children or the abuse of the elderly. This is a legal and professional requirement.

Even if an outside agency reports erroneous information or attempts to manipulate us to provide them with protected information, we will not do it. Unless we have a signed consent from the physician, we cannot reveal any information. We have professional restraints, while others may not share those concerns.

However, confidentiality and anonymity are fundamental to our mission to serve Missouri physicians, physicians-in-training and medical students. We carefully guard and protect the information we obtain from our clients.

We must be able to protect the privacy of our clients. Unless a potential client feels safe, they will not reach out to the Missouri Physician Health Program. 

Financial cost is always a concern. The Missouri Physicians Health Program will recommend options. The final selection of resources is usually dictated by what is necessary to satisfactorily resolve an issue with a referral source. The physician is able to consult with their attorney, physician or other source of consultation. We welcome their input. We cannot demand or force anyone to comply. That is not our role. We do not have any power in that regard. Only the referral source is able to exercise that type of leverage. The client does have a choice. The outcome is decided by the referral source and how the client wants to respond to that entity.

There are many physician health programs around the United States. We belong to the Federation of State Physician Health Programs and share the common goal of being of help to physicians. But each program is unique in that it is based on their individual state governments, regulatory agencies and governing bodies. You cannot assume that all physician health programs are the same. As many say, “when you have seen one PHP, you have seen one PHP.”

Read our full Privacy Statement here.