Colorado
Organization information as
of 7/2006
CPRN - Peer Assistance Services, Inc.
2170 S. Parker Rd., Suite 229, Denver, CO, 80231
303-369-0039/ 1-866-369-0039
Web Site Address :
www.peerassist.org
CPRN/ Diversion Program Manager: Donna Lindsey, RN, C, CAC III, CEAP, CARN
E-Mail address: dlindsey@peerassist.org
CPRN/ Committee Chair: Val Kalnins, RPH, Executive Director
Colorado Pharmacist Society,6825 E. Tennessee, #440, Denver, CO 80224
303-756-3649
E-Mail address:
valkalnins@interfold.com
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Peer Assistance Services, Inc
(PAS), is a non-profit, tax exempt agency, founded in 1984. The agency
provides the following programs: CPRN & the Colorado Board of Pharmacy (SBOP)
Diversion Program, the Dentist Peer Assistance Program, the Colorado Board
of Dental Examiners (CBDE) Diversion Program, Mental Health Corporation of
Denver Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Workplace Services Program,
Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities for CO Department of
Corrections, Prevention programs - Promoting Healthy Families, Synar, and
Drug Free Communities.
PAS has a 14 member, non-paid Board
of Directors, and paid staff members, including program managers, support
staff, and Peer Support Group facilitators. It is free standing from the
SBOP and CPS. PAS carries general liability insurance for Employee
Assistance Program professionals, and utilizes Substance Abuse Professionals
with credentials. PAS maintains criteria for its wide network of treatment
providers. The PAS quarterly newsletter, The Peer Report, is mailed to
1600+.
The CPRN Committee is active, with
elected officers, and meets bi-monthly. Membership represents professional,
union, retail, chain, academic, and recovering pharmacist communities. PAS
and the CPRN Committee have partnered since 1989 to provide comprehensive
peer EAP services to pharmacists, interns and technicians.
PAS has a written professional
service contract with the SBOP to provide diversion or alternative to
discipline services. Since 1992 the Colorado Pharmacy Practice Act has
included language, promoting utilization of the diversion mechanism for
licensed pharmacists and interns with substance abuse, psychiatric, and/or
physical problems that could impair their practice.
The structure of the Diversion
Program includes the PAS Diversion Program Manager, PAS Compliance
Coordinator, a Rehabilitation Evaluation Committee (REC) with 3 pharmacist
members (at least one a recovering pharmacist), and a PhD Psychologist with
expertise in treating addictions in health professionals. A representative
of the BOP Staff also sits as a non-voting member of the REC. The Diversion
Program Manager and Compliance Coordinator present assessment findings,
treatment and practice recommendations, attend all SBOP meetings, providing
demographic, statistical and compliance reports.
Educational presentations and
exhibits are provided to the School of Pharmacy, CPS CE, Pharmacist Union,
and several technician training programs. Facilitated Peer Support Groups
are provided at six sites around the state, with 28 groups per month
available to any health professional. A facilitated Virtual Peer Support
Group, in real time and with a high security format, was added within the
past year to better accommodate health professionals in rural/mountain areas
of the state.
Funding for the pharmacist/ intern
services is received through license renewal frees, through the contract
with the SBOP. A fee for service structure is in place for a pharmacist/
intern NOT licensed in Colorado. Multiple other contracts, grants, and
Federal Block prevention/intervention dollars support other programs listed
above.
Active clients include: Pharmacists,
Pharmacy Students