Identifying Workplace Impairment

Introduction:

The diagnosis of an illness does not equate with impairment. Addiction, as an example, is a potentially impairing illness. Impairment is a functional classification. Individuals with an illness may or may not evidence impairment. Typically, addiction that is untreated progresses to impairment over time. Hence, in addressing physician impairment, it makes sense to identify addiction early and offer treatment and recovery prior to the illness becoming impairment.