Per the agreement reached during the May 19 interested parties meeting on one-bite, a means that impaired physicians who have caused no patient harm can use to anonymously seek treatment without fearing disciplinary action from the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO), workgroup ground rules have been set.
- Defining one-bite eligibility requirements (so they can be more easily applied and are a predictive model of determination of eligibility)
- Administering one-bite relative to determination and monitoring responsibilities
- Enhancing treatment provider standards for one-bite participants (there are presently 27 approved treatment providers)
- Ensuring that approved treatment providers have qualified staff to administer one-bite.
AJ Groeber and Kim Anderson will represent the SMBO on the workgroup and David Goldberg, MD, and Kelley Long will represent the Ohio Physicians Health Program (OPHP). To adequately address different topics that arise as the meetings progress, the workgroup will invite mutually agreed upon individuals with appropriate experience or background to join their discussions, with a total group of no more than eight individuals per meeting. Workgroup meetings will be held at either the offices of OPHP or the SMBO. The workgroup will begin meeting in early June and meet every two weeks until work is completed.
It was also agreed that for the time being, all changes and recommendations will be applicable to MDs, DOs, DPMs, PAs, and AAs. It was also agreed that the discussions apply to one-bite licensees, but will be utilized as best practices and implemented for the five previously-mentioned licensee groups in the future.
The large interested parties group will meet again on Tuesday, June 14, at which time the small group will report on progress made. Watch the Weekly Family Medicine Update for updates and visit the OAFP website for additional information and resources.