Care
Faculty
Wellbeing
In 1985, physicians in Hawaiʻi struggling with substance use disorders often faced one outcome.
"They were fired," recalled Dr. William Haning. "That was the standard of care."
There was little understanding that addiction was a treatable illness. Few resources existed for physicians who needed help, and even fewer pathways allowed them to recover and safely return to caring for patients.
Haning believed there had to be a better way.
Nearly four decades later, the program he helped build, Puʻulu Lapaʻau, Hawaiʻi's Physician Health Program, is now recognized as one of the nation's leading programs supporting the health and well-being of healthcare professionals after earning national recognition through the Federation of State Physician Health Programs' PEER™ review.
Haning says the recognition marks the culmination of a journey that began with uncertainty.
"There was no certitude whatsoever as to the potential for success, or for that matter, any longevity developing out of this," Haning said. "To see Puʻulu Lapaʻau recognized as one of the nation's leading physician health programs is incredibly rewarding."
The idea began with a small group of physicians who recognized something many in medicine were reluctant to acknowledge.
"If this illness of addiction can affect everybody," Haning recalled thinking, "then it certainly is going to include doctors."
Several physicians began meeting each week in Haning's home, using the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to talk openly about addiction, recovery and the unique challenges physicians faced.
Those conversations eventually caught the attention of the Hawaiʻi Medical Association and others searching for a better way to help impaired physicians while protecting patients.
What started around a kitchen table gradually evolved into the organization known today as Puʻulu Lapaʻau.
Along the way, Haning worked to bring conversations about substance use disorders into medical education, introducing JABSOM students to addiction as a medical illness rather than a personal failing.
"The students are hungry to learn,” Haning said. "They want to recognize these illnesses and know what they can do to help."
As hospitals, professional organizations and licensing bodies increasingly recognized physician wellbeing as an essential part of patient safety, Puʻulu Lapaʻau continued to grow. Its mission expanded beyond substance use disorders to support healthcare professionals experiencing burnout, mental illness, work-life imbalance and other behavioral health concerns.
Haning says one lesson has remained constant.
“Physicians are patients, too,” he said. “They deserve evidence-based treatment, compassionate care and the opportunity to recover.”
Haning says that philosophy has produced remarkable results.
"Doctors have incredibly high success rates in recovery," Haning said.
Today, Puʻulu Lapaʻau works alongside hospitals, licensing boards and healthcare organizations across Hawaiʻi to ensure healthcare professionals can receive confidential support while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.
Looking back, Haning is proud not only of the organization Puʻulu Lapaʻau has become, but of the culture it helped create.
“When the program began, physicians often feared asking for help. Today, we’re being recognized nationally as a model for how healthcare professionals can be supported with compassion, accountability and hope and that transformation has been the greatest reward of all for me,” he said.
About Puʻulu Lapaʻau:
Puʻulu Lapaʻau, the Hawaiʻi Program for Healthcare Professionals, is Hawaiʻi’s recognized oPhysician Health Programs (PHP). The organization promotes patient safety and care by improving the health, well-being, and effectiveness of Hawaiʻi’s healthcare professionals. Through wellness initiatives, confidential support, and advocacy Puʻulu Lapaʻau assists healthcare professionals experiencing substance use disorders, mental or physical illness, work-life imbalance, and behavioral concerns.
Puʻulu Lapaʻau seeks recovery and the restoration of healthcare professionals to their roles. It helps determine the fitness of healthcare professionals to practice and re-enter practice after treatment.
For more information, go to www.hawaiiphp.org.
About FSPHP:
The FSPHP evolved over 35 years ago from initiatives taken by the American Medical Association, the Federation of State Medical Boards, and state medical societies. PHPs serve as a safe, confidential resource for the profession, focusing on outreach, education, and health monitoring for physicians and healthcare professionals at risk for impairment. Today, nearly every state has developed a PHP that operates within the parameters of state regulation and legislation.
The FSPHP is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) professional membership association with elected officers and an elected Board of Directors. FSPHP has the largest membership in history, with 50 State Physician Health Program Members and 325 total members of the association. More information about FSPHP can be found here: www.fsphp.org or by watching the linked YouTube video.