Outcome study of substance impaired physicians and physician assistants under contract with North Carolina Physicians Health Program for the period 1995-2000.

The objective of this 6-year retroactive chart review is to compare outcome between chemically dependent physicians and physician assistants under contract with the North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP). Of 233 physicians 91% had a good outcome, compared to only 59% of 34 physician assistants in this sample (significant by Chi Square method, 99.99% confidence).