For their part, suffering physicians should make the most of available programs and resources such as physician health programs, forensic and clinical psychiatrists, treatment centers, and practice consultants, Mr. Rivera said. Fellow physicians, supervisors, and administrators should be vigilant in referring doctors to treatment, when necessary.
No longer will the physician culture accept and ignore physicians with unhealthy behaviors, Mr. Rivera said.
There has been a "revolution in the last 20 years," he said. "Now we have programs, we have thoughtful analysis, and we have conferences like this where we’re trying to approach [the issues] in a more conscientiousness way."