Memorandum

MEMORANDUM

To: South Carolina Recovering Program Participants
From: Tia Cooper, Program Director
Date: August 31, 2022


Re: New Check-in Time, Reminder of Abstinence Policy/Medication Exception Request, After-hours line, Services, Periodic Outreach


Dear SCRPP participants:

NEW CHECK-IN TIME FOR RECOVERY TREK: Effective Monday, September 5, 2022, RPP participants may check-in for testing by telephone, IVR, mobile app, or web portal to confirm whether they have been selected to test from 5 am- 4 pm. This expansion is an effort to allow for more time to check-in. Please remember that lab hours may be limited; thus, should you check in at the cutoff time (4 pm) and be selected to test, you will still be required to submit to random testing that same day. If there is an issue, please contact our office at 877 349 2094 or 803 896 5711. Please remember that you must speak with someone if you have a test-related issue or concern. Sending an email or leaving a voicemail is not sufficient to excuse you from testing. If you do not test on the day you are selected, it will be considered a missed test.


ABSTINENCE POLICY STATEMENT: RPP is an abstinence-based program. The abstinence policy statement confirms your agreement to abide by the abstinence policy and provides a general outline of substances, including mood-altering substances, alcohol, certain prescription medications, over-the counter-medications, synthetic substances, etc., that are prohibited. A Safe Medication Guide is available upon request and via the SC RPP website (https://scrpp.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safemedguide.pdf). The Guide provides general information concerning prescription and over-the-counter medications and products approved for use while monitoring with RPP. Questions about a specific medication or product should be directed to your assigned recovery specialist PRIOR to initiating the medication.

A request for an exception to the abstinence policy (to take a prescription drug or medication, or substance otherwise prohibited by the abstinence policy) may be submitted in certain circumstances subject to your Board’s specific policy. For more information, please contact your recovery specialist.

SCRPP participants are required to adhere to an abstinence policy. At intake, you were made aware of the abstinence policy, and upon enrollment, you signed the Abstinence Policy Statement. RPP recently updated the Abstinence Policy Statement due to new trends, such as CBD products, Delta 8, increased use of Benadryl, Nyquil, Alcohol, etc. A copy of the most recent Abstinence Policy statement is attached for your review and signature. Please return an executed copy to your assigned recovery specialist at your earliest convenience. Please contact your assigned recovery specialist if you have any questions.


AFTER HOURS LINE: SCRPP office hours are 8 am-4:30 pm. Should you require assistance after 4:30 pm, please dial our after-hours line at 877 349 2094 or 803 896 5711. If you need to reach your recovery specialist during normal business hours, please contact them at their direct extension. If you are not able to reach your recovery specialist and you require immediate assistance, please dial our after-hours line, listed above.


SERVICES: SCRPP’s normal business hours are from 8:00AM until 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Prospective and current participants are seen by appointment only. If you are scheduled to meet with SCRPP and have a concern about meeting in person or prefer to meet via videoconference or phone, please contact your assigned recovery specialist to determine whether your meeting may be conducted via Doxy-me, TEAMS, or telephone.


PERIODIC OUTREACH: SCRPP recovery specialists will conduct calls with their assigned participants every April, August, and December. During this call, your assigned recovery specialist will check in with you. Please continue to update your assigned recovery specialist with any changes in between these meetings and/or to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you for your continued compliance, and we support you in all your professional endeavors.

*To view PDF, click here.

Critical Care Burnout: Systemic Changes Needed, Not Just Self Care

Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC, AHC

Burnout was a recognized issue in Critical Care Medicine well before the pandemic began. The Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) issued a call to action in 2016 to address “Burnout Syndrome” among those in their member societies, which include the Society of Critical Care Medicine, American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.1,2

According to the CCSC call to action, “Up to 45% of critical care physicians reported symptoms of severe [burnout syndrome].”1,2

Empowering Leaders: Addressing Burnout in Healthcare: A Healthcare Leadership Training Program

The Center for Professional Health and Wellness is pleased to announce that registration for the 2022 Annual Leadership Training Program: Empowering Leaders: Addressing Burnout in Healthcare is now OPEN! Join us for a virtual 3-day interactive CME approved program!

Open to ALL healthcare leaders (Program Directors, Division Chiefs, Department Chairs, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nursing Officers, etc.) from Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dentistry.

Click the registration link to secure your spot today!

https://redcap.link/leadership2022

Visit our website here: www.vumc.org/cph

Memorandum

MEMORANDUM

To: SCRPP Participants
From: Tia Cooper, Program Director
Date:  January 14, 2022

Subject: Oral fluid testing

Thank you for your continued participation and cooperation in the SC Recovering Professional Program (RPP).

I am writing to update you and report that RPP will permit participants to continue oral fluid testing, also known as PROOF testing, through RecoveryTrek on an interim basis, as an option for testing. This decision was made, in part, based upon the increased number of COVID-19 cases and lab-related issues, to include extended wait times at labs. Although best practices indicate that urine drug testing is the most effective toxicology testing for safety-sensitive positions, we do recognize the current issues surrounding the pandemic and feel that interim use is appropriate. RPP will re-evaluate whether to allow continued use of the PROOF kits in three months.  

We value you as a participant and we strive to provide excellent monitoring service. Should you have any questions or concerns, you are always encouraged to contact your assigned recovery specialist or our toll-free emergency line at 877 349 2094. Please contact Recovery Trek’s Success Manager, Caitlyn Fendley at 757 943 9800 x8, to order your PROOF testing kits and receive instructions.          

Wales Behavioral Assessment: CME December and January

Final 2021 Course Dec 10 – 12 Online

A course for disruptive physicians that provides an opportunity to learn new behavioral skills to enable them to function in an increasingly complex medical environment, document specific behavioral changes and maintain their position and privileges in their practice or hospital staff. 

The last course of 2021 will be offered fully online, again via a Virtual Live modality. We still have a few places for this course.

Call Nathaniel at 785-842-9772 to sign up.  LEARN MORE AT https://www.walesbehavioral.com/index.html/cme/.

Thank you, Healthcare Workers!

SCRPP would like to join the SC Hospital Association in thanking our healthcare heroes. SCRPP is extremely honored to serve and support healthcare professionals licensed by the State of South Carolina and grateful for your tireless efforts and passion for helping others. SCRPP would like to express appreciation to and thank all of our licensed healthcare professionals for your continued sacrifice and dedication. The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect our nation and the State of South Carolina, almost two years later, and our healthcare heroes continue to report to work to treat and protect us despite the risk of harm that COVID 19 presents to themselves and their loved ones. We are well aware of the risk you take each day and are grateful to you for your skills and abilities, selflessness, and dedication. Thank you.

In loving memory of Dr. James Graham

All of us at RPP were saddened to hear about the passing of our immediate past Medical Director, Dr. James F. Graham, who passed away Thursday, October 7, 2021. Tia Cooper, Program Director, SC Recovering Professional Program said, “Dr. Graham was such a sweet, gentle, caring soul. He worked with us for about ten years and left a legacy of hope and healing for those entering recovery.” We send love and sympathy to Dr. Graham’s friends and family and treasure our time together.