Recovering Professional Program
The Recovering Professional Program is committed to...
- The protection of public safety through the early identification of health professionals in need of help with alcohol and other drug abuse problems
- The return to safe practice through appropriate referral and effective monitoring, rehabiliation, and recovery
RPP is a confidential referral and monitoring program designed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists in South Carolina who are experiencing problems related to alcohol and/or other drug dependence. The program ensures that impaired professionals receive the help they need at the earliest point possible.
RPP is committed to assisting the health professional return to safe practice--a decision that benefits the individual, the profession and society at large--by ensuring that the professional complies with an established treatment protocol and appropriate continuing care. RPP emphasizes confidentiality, education and opportunity, while treating the professional with compassion and dignity throughout the process of recovery.
RPP operates under contract between the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation as the approved monitoring program for licensees of the South Carolina Boards of Medical Examiners, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dentistry.
Confidentiality and Anonymity
Alcohol and other drug problems among licensed health professionals affect not only the individuals, their colleagues and their professions, but they also affect the public at large, as patients count on these individuals every day to make critical decisions about their lives.
For the professional whose practice is impaired as a result of alcohol or other drug abuse, the Recovering Professional Program (RPP) provides a new road to healing.
Opportunity
RPP offers:
- An opportunity for recovery from addiction
- Confidentiality for all participants
- Anonymity for voluntary participants who comply with program requirements
- Access to peer-assistance networks and support systems throughout South Carolina
- Education for employers of health professionals
...because returning a health professional to safe practice is in the best interest of the profession and the public
What is RPP?
RPP is a confidential referral and monitoring program designed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists in South Carolina who are suffering from problems related to substance abuse and dependence, or from a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental illness. The program offers an effective way to ensure that impaired professionals receive the help they need as quickly as possible.
The ultimate goal of the program is to help the professional return to safe practice--a decision that benefits the individual, the profession and society at large--by ensuring that the professional complies with an established treatment protocol and appropriate continuing care.
An alternative to the board disciplinary process, operating independently from both boards and associations, RPP provides accountable, consistent and confidential monitoring for both voluntary and board-referred participants to ensure safe practice of health professionals in South Carolina.
What Services Does RPP Offer?
- Early identification of health professionals in need of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment
- Initial screening
- Intervention
- Referral to an approved network of providers
- Follow-up with providers to ensure quality of care for all participants
- Referral to peer assistance and support systems
- Follow-up with peer assistance and support systems to ensure quality of care for all participants
- Five-year monitoring, including continuing care, peer assistance, and urine drug screens
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Dentists
Participants can expect to be:
- Treated with dignity and respect
- Supported during treatment
- Assisted throughout the recovery process
- Encouraged to return to safe practice and to be supported throughout continued practice
RPP's primary concern is the return of a health professional to safe practice. The program recognizes that alcohol and other drug addiction is a treatable illness.
RPP promotes appropriate and effective treatment as essential to saving a health professional's life. RPP also works to provide an opportunity to save the health professional's license and career.
If You or Someone You Love
is experiencing difficulties with substance abuse, please contact RPP for confidential information on how to get help.
The RPP staff is available for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. RPP accepts referrals from licensees of the South Carolina Boards of Medical Examiners, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dentistry who meet eligibility criteria.
Health professionals may refer themselves or be referred by the boards, friends, family members, colleagues, employers or peer-assistance representatives.
For more information about the program, please contact...
SC Recovering Professional Program
3600 Forest Drive, Suite 205
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
Telephone: (803) 737-9138
Fax: (803) 737-9141
Toll-free, 24-hour helpline: 1-877-349-2094
http://www.scrpp.org