Under the impaired practitioner program, the licensee may report to a consultant when the individual is unable to practice due to illness or substance use or mental/physical condition.

Under the impaired practitioner program, the licensee may report to a consultant when the individual is unable to practice due to illness or substance use or mental/physical condition.

• A. The person is simply taking a vacation
• B. The person is attending a seminar
• C. The person is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to illness or mental/physical condition
• D. The person has changed practice location

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the impaired practitioner program is for situations where a licensee cannot practice with reasonable skill and safety because of illness, substance use, or a mental/physical condition. Reporting to a consultant in that scenario helps protect patients while guiding the practitioner to treatment and a safe path back to practice. The option describing an inability to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to illness or mental/physical condition aligns with this purpose. Taking a vacation, attending a seminar, or changing practice location are routine or administrative and do not reflect an impairment requiring consultation.

The key idea is that the impaired practitioner program is for situations where a licensee cannot practice with reasonable skill and safety because of illness, substance use, or a mental/physical condition. Reporting to a consultant in that scenario helps protect patients while guiding the practitioner to treatment and a safe path back to practice. The option describing an inability to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to illness or mental/physical condition aligns with this purpose. Taking a vacation, attending a seminar, or changing practice location are routine or administrative and do not reflect an impairment requiring consultation.