Contractor for impaired-provider program briefs board; members raise questions about reporting and oversight
Loading...
Summary
Strategic Professional Solutions, an impaired-provider monitoring contractor, described its evaluation and monitoring services and said it provides quarterly compliance reports; the board asked to review the KOA contract and to clarify reporting practices.
Strategic Professional Solutions (SPS), the contractor that provides an impaired-provider monitoring program under contract with the Kansas Optometric Association (KOA), briefed the board on its services and reporting practices.
Dr. Sharon Green, an optometrist associated with SPS, and Stephanie Beecraft, SPS executive director, described the program as an alternative-to-discipline monitoring service for licensees with substance-use or mental-health concerns. Beecraft said SPS performs evaluations, places participants in one- or three-year monitoring plans where appropriate, and requires random drug testing, attendance at peer-support or 12-step meetings when indicated, and monthly compliance monitoring.
Beecraft told the board SPS provides quarterly reports to contracting entities and will notify the board if a participant tests positive or otherwise becomes noncompliant. The boards executive and members said they had not previously reviewed the KOAs contract with SPS and requested that future renewals or the 20242025 contract be placed on a board agenda for review. Members raised confidentiality and reporting questions about how and when SPS reports participant status to the board, and SPS said reporting practices can be coordinated with the board and KOA.
Why this matters: Impaired-provider programs aim to balance public safety with rehabilitation for health professionals. Boards must ensure oversight, consistent reporting and clarity about when program noncompliance triggers licensure or disciplinary action.
Next steps: Board members requested the contract and asked staff and counsel to review the agreement. SPS offered to provide brochures and to coordinate quarterly reports as the board directs.
