Arkansas Children's Hospital
Medical Staff Policies/Procedures

 Drug Testing

             Policy Date:                   11/20/01

             Subject:                          Drug Testing of Medical Staff 

             Application:                   Members of the Medical Staff

             Distribution:                    Medical Staff Policies/Procedures Manual

             Approved by:                Sam Smith, M.D.,  Chief of Staff

             Recommended by:      Joanna Seibert, M.D.,   Chair, Medical Staff Health Subcommittee

             Supercedes:                   December 1995, December 1997, February 1999, August 2000

 POLICY

1.                  Confidential testing will be provided to practitioners on request of the Medical Staff Health Subcommittee (MSHS).

2.                  Testing includes drugs and/or alcohol that may performed as random testing, follow-up testing of practitioners in recovery,  and “for cause” testing.
 

3.                  Practitioners called for random or follow-up testing must report within six (6) hours of notification.  Failure to appear for testing shall be referred to the Chairperson of the MSHS, the Medical Director, or a member of the MSHS.  

4.                  The substances included in testing shall be approved by the Medical Staff Health Subcommittee or as specified by the Chairperson of the MSHS or designee. 

5.                  No cost will be assigned to the testing.

 PROCEDURE

 Random Testing

1.         Random testing will be performed by Drug Free and collected by Employee Health.  The Medical Staff 
            Office will provide information regarding physicians with current privileges monthly.  Drug Free will provide
            for random selection of physicians to be tested.

 2.         Positive results will reported to the Chairman of the Subcommittee or, in his/her absence, to the Medical
             Director.

3.         A summary report of test results will be provided annually to the Medical Executive Committee and to
             the Board of Trustees.

Testing for Physicians in Recovery

4.         Refer to Medical Staff Policy:  Follow-up for Practitioners in Recovery

 5.         Physicians, House Officers, or Affiliated Health Professional (AHP) staff members identified by the Medical
             Staff Health Subcommittee will be assigned an identifying case number.

6.         The Vice President/Medical Staff Services will provide the name of physicians for whom testing is
             requested.  These physicians are those who are being followed by the Medical Staff Health
             Subcommittee.  The frequency of collection will be in conjunction with reappointment or more
             frequently, if directed by the Chairperson of the MSHS.

 For Cause Testing

7.         The Chairperson of the MSHS, the Medical Director, or a member of the MSHS may request “for cause”
             testing following an evaluation of the practitioner by 2-3 members of the MSHS. 

8.         Testing is done by Employee Health during regular hours and by the Clinical Laboratory after hours.  

 9.         The referring member of the Medical Staff Health Subcommittee will

             a.         instruct the practitioner to report to the Employee Health Nurse (days) or the Laboratory
                         Supervisor (after hours) for testing, and     

            b,         notify the Employee Health Nurse or the Laboratory Supervisor to expect the practitioner to
                         present for testing. 

 10.       Results of testing shall be submitted to the MSHS Chairman or Medical Director as soon as available.