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Professional Recovery Network reports steady referrals, 19 voluntary dentists enrolled
Summary
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners received a quarterly report from the Professional Recovery Network showing continued referrals for potentially impaired dental professionals and steady voluntary participation by licensees.
Raquel Liel, director of the Professional Recovery Network (PRN), told the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners on Aug. 8 that PRN continues to receive referrals of potentially impaired dental professionals and that overall compliance among current participants is “acceptable.”
PRN’s quarterly report, delivered to the full board, said staff submitted LBB numbers to the board on June 10 and reported the following counts for participants enrolled in PRN for the quarter: 6 board‑ordered dentists, 3 compelled volunteer dentists, 19 volunteer dentists, 0 board‑ordered hygienists, 0 compelled volunteer hygienists, 0 volunteer hygienists, 0 board‑ordered assistants, 0 compelled volunteer assistants, and 1 volunteer assistant.
“The mechanism for monitored rehabilitation provides an alternative to license discipline, emphasizing fitness to practice and retention of competent professionals,” Liel said, summarizing the goals of PRN and its participation in national conferences on monitoring programs. She reported that PRN held an online spring seminar in April for current participants and that speaker Jennifer See presented on recognizing codependency and unhealthy relationship patterns.
Board members discussed participation rates and compliance. Doctor McNeil noted that board‑ordered dentist referrals have fallen from 14 in an earlier comparison period to six in the recent quarter, and he credited outreach by the Texas Dental Association and other stakeholders for encouraging voluntary treatment. Doctor Melcher asked whether seminar attendance is consistently high; Liel said attendance for required seminars is “not quite 100%,” estimating approximately 85% and noting plans to offer recordings on demand so participants can access content if they miss a live event.
Board Chair David Yu and other members praised PRN’s work and compared the program to peer assistance programs in other safety‑sensitive professions, saying PRN helps licensees address substance‑use or behavioral‑health concerns while protecting patients.
PRN’s report and the board’s discussion focused on continuing education and access to monitored‑recovery supports; no formal board action was taken on PRN’s report at the meeting.
