Health Professionals Services Program Summary

MISSION

Minnesota’s Health Professionals Services Program protects the public by providing monitoring services to regulated health care professionals whose illnesses may impact their ability to practice safely.

GOALS

The HPSP goals are to promote early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment for health professionals with illnesses, and to provide monitoring services as an alternative to board discipline. Early intervention enhances the likelihood of successful treatment, before clinical skills or public safety are compromised.

As you may know, I’ve been the representative from MPA to the HPSP Advisory Committee for a number of years now, and wanted to give our MPA members an update and some more ongoing education about this important area for our own membership, as well as other professional endeavors. Our students being trained, and our new professionals, as well as the seasoned ones, need some accurate information about what HPSP is, and does and does not do.

HPSP may be involved when a licensed health professional has a health condition which is medical/physical in nature, mental health/psychological in nature, chemical dependency/substance abuse in nature or many times a combination thereof.

HPSP does not treat the disorders, but rather acts as a case coordinator as well as an accountability system.  The extent and role HPSP plays may vary depending upon the type of illness to be monitored. So for example, a professional themselves may call and self report, someone from the same workplace may call and ask if they can report that professional or if they need to (to protect his/her own license), the employer may call, the public or a client may do so, or the licensing board may send someone to HPSP after there has been licensing board involvement.,  I recommend you go to the HPSP website at https://mn.gov/boards/hpsp/ to learn a great deal more information. In fact, I’d suggest that you watch the video on that site to learn more about this important program which protects the public as well as allows professionals who are working to manage their health conditions to practice and to practice safely.

WHAT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SAY

1) HPSP kept me accountable. I also knew my license was safe as long as I was following HPSP guidelines.
2) I really felt it was a supportive program rather than one that was punitive.
3) It helped me get a solid foundation in my recovery by helping plant the seed...that will be a part of my future...
4) The whole program kept me staying on track to my recovery.
5) Monitoring with screens gave me a period of accountability that was very helpful.

These are some comments from former participants who completed surveys following their completion of monitoring. These are anonymous but real comments from real people who had experience with this program. Are individuals always happy about “having someone interfering in their life and profession” at the beginning? Are people always happy about any sort of an intervention, particularly for substance use issues, whether or not that person possesses an advanced degree and a license? Well, no. However, as treatment is given and as health and clarity return, the entire picture can change quite remarkably for the better. And as someone who has credentials in two of the areas that HPSP monitors, many of the individuals needing the supportive but firm network of those who understand but hold accountable is exactly what helps a professional dealing with shame and feeling unique to come out and talk things through. There are professional recovery groups, and some of us providers see a number of licensees who may need quarterly reports to be sent to HPSP. All of these are important aspects of knowledge about HPSP.  Please look at the new and improved website: https://mn.gov/boards/hpsp/

Lois Schlutter, Ph.D., L.P., owns several clinics, including Schlutter & Associates, Northern Integrated Health and Professional Counseling Centers. She has served as chair of the DLPP Division and has been on the executive committee for MPA in the past.  Dr. Schlutter serves as the HPSP representative from MPA and chairs the HCCCHP group, which is the chemical dependency providers group for Hennepin County.

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