Physician Vitality Program
In October, the Idaho Medical Association (IMA) announced
the expansion of a membership benefit that was previously only available to Ada
County Medical Society members. The Physician Vitality Program (PVP) offers
confidential, affordable, and easily accessible mental health support tailored
for Idaho's physicians. It is now available to all medical licensed
professionals (physicians, PAs, NPs) who are members of the IMA wherever they
practice. PVP was created by Ada County Medical Society in 2016 to address the
growing needs of those facing the epidemic of physician burnout, as well as
other occupational and personal stressors.
The program provides five confidential appointments at no
cost, with a strong emphasis on maintaining the privacy of individuals seeking
help. While many clinicians have access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
through their insurance plans, they often hesitate to use them due to genuine
or perceived confidentiality concerns. ACMS created its own panel of clinically
licensed mental health professionals available throughout Idaho and via
telehealth and chose those with a reputation for serving medical clinicians. It
is suitable for those seeking help for depression, grief, relationship and work
challenges, imposter syndrome, and other issues commonly faced by those who
practice medicine.
To find out more about this program and access appointments,
visit www.physicianvitality.org.
To determine if you are eligible for services, you may verify your IMA
membership at https://www.idmed.org/idaho/Idaho_Public/Physician_Finder/Idaho_Public/Physician_Finder/Search.aspx.