New developments in employee assistance programs

• Published in: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 47; no. 4; p. 387
• Main Authors: White, R K, McDuff, D R, Schwartz, R P, Tiegel, S A, Judge, C P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1996
• Subjects: Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Baltimore; Forecasting; Health Promotion - trends; Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; Hospitals, University - manpower; Hospitals, University - organization & administration; Humans; Managed Care Programs - trends; Occupational Health Services - organization & administration; Occupational Health Services - trends; Occupational Health Services - utilization; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Patient Care Team - trends; Personnel, Hospital; Professional Impairment; Referral and Consultation - trends; Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Baltimore
• ISSN: 1075-2730
• DOI: 10.1176/ps.47.4.387

Employee assistance programs have developed from alcoholism assessment and referral centers to specialized behavioral health programs. Comprehensive employee assistance programs are defined by six major components: identification of problems based on job performance, consultation with supervisors, constructive confrontation, evaluation and referral, liaison with treatment providers, and substance abuse expertise. Other services have been added as enhancements to the basic model and include managed behavioral health activities and professional assistance committees, which provide services for impaired professionals and executives. Recent developments in the field are illustrated through examples from the experience of the employee assistance program at the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore.