Fact Sheet

Dedicated to promoting patient safety and care by improving the health, well-being, and effectiveness of healthcare professionals.

Pu'ulu Lapa'au is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to assisting our healthcare provider colleagues in their journey of life and medicine.

Who We Serve

We serve ALL licensed healthcare professionals, including but not limited to:

physicians & PAs

nurses

pharmacisits

veterinarians

social workers

psychologists

dentists

students and residents

We provide two options for positive intervention for those who may be struggling with personal, work or health-related problems:

Monitoring

Best for: potential impairment, licensure or employer compliance

Conditions:

  • Substance use disorders
  • Mental, physical, or cognitive conditions
  • Behavioral concerns (Disruptive, anger management)
  • Sexual misconduct or other boundary violations

Rigorous national guidelines

Toxicology and worksite monitoring

Formal reporting to employers/licensing boards

Benefit of Monitoring
  • Assures compliance with recovery plan to assure provider is safe to practice
  • Provider is able to continue practicing with adherence to requirements
  • Employers and licensing boards receive independent reports verifying safety to practice

 

Supportive Case Management

Best for: prevention, early intervention

Conditions:

  • Burnout
  • Stress
  • Work-life balance issues
  • Life transitions

Up to 1 year of support at no charge

Confidential coaching and referrals

Voluntary, non-disciplinary

Benefits of Supportive Case Management
  • Early intervention, before disciplinary action might be considered or indicated
  • Provider is able to continue practicing without rigorous monitoring requirements
  • 100% confidential and free

The Model

We subscribe to the Physician Health Program Model, which has been endorsed by the American Medical Association. The essential elements of the model are:

Confidentiality

Independent Governing Board

Qualified Staff

Evidence-Based Methods

Mutual Immunity

Peer-to-Peer Interactions

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Using this model, 90% of  Pu'ulu Lapa'au's participants are licensed, working, and in recovery at the end of their monitoring agreements.

How we are supported

  • We have contracts with various hospitals in the State and from organizations that recognize the value of our work.  In exchange for funding, the hospitals are able to refer any of their professionals to us for an informal assessment, and when required, formal monitoring.  Hospitals receive periodic compliance reports on the professionals they refer to us.
  • In addition, Participants on full-term contracts are assessed a monitoring fee.  A Participant on a short-term contract may be assessed a reduced fee, and in some cases, no fee.  This fee is imposed to assure the Participant has a tangible investment in their own success.
  • As a non-profit organization with 501-c(3) status, we are able to receive donations from those who support our work.
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