Behavioral Indicators
BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS OF A POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEM IN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
Information to Consider:
- The information in this list is an example of behavioral indicators of possible health problems in medical professionals and does not serve as a diagnosis of any health condition.
- This list does not replace a health assessment by a qualified professional.
- A goal of CPHP is to help physicians before they become impaired. Most ill physicians do not show evidence of impairment at work. Impairment is typically a sign of late stage illness.
- Note: the most significant behavioral indicator of a health problem is a change in mood or attitude
Legal/Regulatory
- Medical licensing issues
- Involvement in malpractice suits
- Peer review of work
- Arrests for driving while intoxicated or other legal problems (i.e. domestic violence, public sexuality acting out)
Family
- Withdrawal from family activities
- Children neglected, abused or in trouble
- Mood swings, arguments or violent outbursts
- Sexual problems; impotence, extramarital affairs
- Medicinal use of alcohol or drugs
- Family isolation
- Financial problems
- Spouse in therapy or taking psychoactive medication
- Geographical separation or divorce by spouse
Physical
- Deterioration in personal hygiene
- Deterioration in clothing and dressing habits
- Inappropriate dress
- Numerous prescriptions and OTC drug use
- Frequent ER visits or hospitalizations
- Frequent visits to physicians
- Accidents
- Multiple somatic complaints
- Excessive tiredness or insomnia
- Memory problems, difficulty concentrating
- Emotional crisis
Employment
- Frequent job changes or relocations
- Unusual medical history
- Indefinite, vague or inappropriate references
- Working in positions inappropriate for qualifications
- Resistance to preemployment physical or family interview
Community
- Neglected social commitments
- Inappropriate behavior at social functions
- Arrests for driving while intoxicated or legal problems
- Unreliability or unpredictability in community activities
- Public intoxication or impairment
Office
- Disruption in appointment schedule
- Hostile, suspicious or unreasonable behavior to staff or patients
- Withdrawn, "locked door syndrome"
- Excessive ordering of drug supplies
- Excessive prescribing practices
- Complaints from patients and staff
- Unexplained absences from the office
- Spasmodic work pace, or decreasing work load and tolerance
- Taking sexual advantage of patients or coworkers
- Procrastination or neglect of details
- Avoidance of fellow workers
- Errors in judgment
- Becoming a topic of "gossip"
Hospital
- Making rounds late, or inappropriate or abnormal behavior during rounds
- Decreasing quality of performance
- Inappropriate orders
- Reports of behavioral changes
- Unavailability or inappropriate responses to telephone calls
- Heavy drinking at staff functions
- Often late, absent or ill
- Alcohol on the breath when on duty
- Intoxicated when on call, even at home
- Unreasonable sensitivity to normal criticism from peers
- No longer attending committee meetings and/or other functions