Expert, Collaborative Assessments for Professionals.

Fitness for Duty Assessment

There's a great deal riding on the ability of professionals in high accountability roles to perform well, practice safely and exercise good judgment. Physicians, nurses, pilots, attorneys and business leaders have many people relying on them – their patients, clients or passengers, their staff and coworkers, as well as their own families and loved ones.

If professionals are potentially struggling with addiction or exhibiting erratic or disruptive behavior symptomatic of a cognitive disorder, it is of utmost importance to determine the root cause of their issues – and ultimately guide them into treatment to restore their lives.

What to Expect

MCAP of Chicago believes in a culture of respect and mutual trust. Individuals undergoing the one, two or three-day MCAP should expect to be evaluated by caring physicians, nurses and therapists who respect their privacy and who understand how much is at stake. Every individual will receive the full attention of our team of experienced and knowledgeable experts, many of whom have multiple board certifications in their fields and are specialists in psychiatry, addiction medicine and internal medicine.

Recognizing Signs of Substance Abuse

Professionals typically go to great effort to hide symptoms of an addictive disorder or cognitive impairment. Their resourcefulness, determination and intelligence means they may continue to function fairly well until their condition has advanced significantly. Bringing up your concerns with the individual will likely be met with denial, excuses, anger or indignation.

Yet statistics suggest that from 8 to 12% of physicians and nurses will develop a substance abuse problem during their career. Other research indicates pilots and attorneys have similar rates.

Recognizing the Signs of Cognitive Impairment

Drugs and alcohol addiction aren’t the only explanations for worrisome changes in behavior. MCAP examines all potential causes, including neurological issues.

Signs of impairment associated with neurological conditions:

• Declining mental acuity or motor skills
• Forgetfulness
• Failing eyesight
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Changes in personality or patterns of behavior