Greg Skipper, MD, director of Professional Health Services at Promises Treatment Centers, has co-authored an article on physician impairment in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. (JAMA). JAMA, established in 1883, is among the most influential and prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals today. The article “Identification of Physician Impairment” explains that because alcohol, narcotic and seditive addiction are as common among physicians as the general population, safeguards such as physical examinations and random drug-testing of doctors are needed to protect patients. Dr. Skipper notes that in other high-risk industries, such as the airline industry, regulations have been put in place to protect the public. Medicine should be the same, the authors of the article say. Dr. Skipper’s co-authors include Julius Cuong Pham, MD, PhD, and Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, both of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “We are honored to have our work selected for publication in JAMA,” said Dr. Skipper. “Physicians are susceptible to drug and alcohol problems at similar rates as the general population, affecting about 1 out of every 10 individuals. If these issues can be identified and treated, we can help physicians continue practicing safely.” Greg Skipper, MD, has more than 30 years of experience shaping the professionals health movement. He is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine, and is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also an educator, author and a sought-after speaker who has been interviewed by leading national television and radio shows.
