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

 New/ Trends:    Interns being licensed as first year students, many with history of DUI, possession charges, with the BOP utilizing the Diversion Program to assess need for Rehabilitation Contracts along with licensure.

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