Wisconsin Healthcare Professional Services Program Planning Underway
Yesterday (August 13th, 2025) marked the kickoff meeting of the Wisconsin Healthcare Professional Services Program (WIHPSP) collaborating partners group, hosted by the Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed). WisMed, in collaboration with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Dental Association, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, the Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants, SSM Health, and the Federation of State Physician Health Programs are designing and planning a confidential referral and monitoring services program for licensed health care professionals in Wisconsin who experience behavioral, psychiatric, substance use, or other potentially impairing conditions. Ultimately the WIHPSP will coordinate detection, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of licensed health care professionals with these conditions.
Back L to R: Mike Flesher WisMed, Dr. Mike Stadler Advancing Healthier Wisconsin, James Meacham SSM Health, Jim Lorence WisMed
Participated but not pictured: Dr. Heather Schmidt SSM Health, Deana Hahn SSM Health, Amy Cheatham Wisconsin Association of Physician Assistants Mark Paget Wisconsin Dental Association, Brenna Sadler Wisconsin Dental Association
Thanks to the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment, WisMed was awarded a grant of $2.4 million over 2.5 years for the plan and design of WIHPSP. “The Wisconsin Medical Society is proud to receive this important grant—a vital step in creating a confidential program to support the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses, and other providers,” stated Wisconsin Medical Society CEO Mike Flesher. “By prioritizing those who care for us, the Wisconsin Healthcare Professional Services Program will better support our 260,000 licensed health care professionals and ensure all Wisconsinites receive high-quality care from a stable, supported, and healthy workforce for years to come.”
With the support of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, WIHPSP will build upon the well-established Physician Health Program (PHP) model, with demonstrated long-term success. PHPs are confidential, therapeutic programs designed to address mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and other potential concerns. As burnout, stress, and behavioral health challenges rise—62.8% of U.S. physicians reported symptoms of burnout in 2021—programs like WIHPSP provide critical early intervention and ensure that health care professionals can access care without fear of stigma.
“As an organization dedicated to supporting Wisconsin physicians, we’re especially proud that this program will provide vital resources to help physicians address the challenges they may face,” said Wisconsin Medical Society CEO Mike Flesher. “At the same time, we’re honored to collaborate with our colleagues across health care professions to ensure that health care professionals have access to the support they need to stay healthy, effective, and connected to the communities they serve.”
In addition, through retention and recovery support, these programs can help mitigate the cost of physician burnout to the U.S. health care system – estimated to be $4.6 billion annually – and stabilize and support the health care workforce to ensure Wisconsinites continue to receive high-quality care well into the future.
Click here to read the AHW news release.