ABOUT US
The NMHPWP provides CONFIDENTIAL services statewide for health professionals with substance abuse, mental health, physical health impairment and workplace issues. NMHPWP was started, in 1986, by the New Mexico Medical Society’s Physician Aid Committee (PAC). Over the years the program has grown and changed to meet the needs of the health care community.
NMHPWP staff are specially trained, licensed and qualified professionals providing assessment, referral, follow-up, treatment planning, case management and reporting, as well as community outreach, education, presentation and consultation to a variety of settings.
The NMHPWP Board of Directors provides program quality and fiscal oversight and meets on a quarterly basis. Board Members are individuals from the health care field who have special interest and/or expertise in the services NMHPWP provides.
Some of the members may be in recovery from substance abuse or mental illness, some are active in the practice of healthcare and others retired. All have a sincere interest in assuring the health care profession has a program that can provide services to assist in obtaining help for his/her diagnosis and providing a record that provides support for participation in NMHPWP.
The program provides individual treatment planning, and case management. Case management provides the participant, as well as any party the needed reports, with documentation of participation, progress or interventions of problems, and status of program compliance and completion.This provides documentation of participation and progress that can be used to support licensure, credentialing, malpractice insurance, and other areas of personal and professional needs.
NMHPWP was established to confidentially assist health professionals who have problems that can cause impairment (including substance related disorders, psychiatric problems, behavioral problems, physical disabilities, and others).
Referrals to the program undergo assessment, participate in appropriate treatment, and case management to assure compliance with ongoing care.
As a continuing care program that provides a unique understanding of the personal and professional issues that impact recovery, NMHPWP utilizes referral sources who can help the participant deal with those specific areas. NMHPWP believes that professional treatment is essential to the success of professional recovery because of the ability to address issues unique to the professional.
This information not only provides support while participating in NMHPWP, but after discharge also.
NMHPWP provides the following services to Individuals:
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Assessment
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Development of Individualized Treatment Plan
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Referrals to resources that most closely matches client’s needs
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Follow-up of referrals
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Establishment of a case management program to track participation in treatment plan
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Monitoring participation in treatment plan
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Report to referral sources and/or sources requested by participant.
Senate Bill 309 (Impaired Health Provider Act) was passed in 1987, which allows a system for both the licensing agency and the individual health professional an ability to obtain assistance, protect the public, be evaluated for impairment and to provide a mechanism for the professional to surrender his or her license in order to obtain recovery. It also allows for licensing entities to assess a fee as part of each license renewal fee to create a fund for contracting with an organization to provide treatment, case management and advocacy for recovering health professionals.
NMHPWP provides the services to employment/practice settings:
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Consultation on referral process
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How to make a referral to NMHPWP
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Difference between formal and informal referrals
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Expectations on assessment process
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Education, presentations and training
The New Mexico Medical Board contracts with NMHPWP through a competitive bidding process, through a release of a request for proposal (RFP) for services. NMHPWP had bid on each published RFP and has been awarded the contract each time, the most recent award was for fiscal year 2017. Other health professional boards also contract with NMHPWP for services.
NMHPWP, being a statewide program, has identified population centers around the state. NMHPWP staff make regular visits to these population centers to meet with participants from around that area for follow-up. Also during these visits, NMHPWP staff will meet with local health care institutions, professional societies, contracted professional referral sources, and others.
NMHPWP staff have expertise by training and experience in addictions, mental illness, behavioral issues, case management and are knowledgeable about health professional practice and employment settings. NMHPWP maintains a Physician Medical Director, a Licensed Clinician at the independent level, and a Doctoral level Executive Director.