BILL NUMBER: AB 1094 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Conway FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add Section 2005 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to medicine. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1094, as introduced, Conway. Medical Board of California: physician and surgeon well-being. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and vests the board with certain responsibilities. This bill would authorize the board to establish a program to promote the issues concerning physician and surgeon well-being and would require the program to include, among other things, an examination and evaluation of existing wellness education for medical students, postgraduate trainees, and licensed physicians and surgeons and an outreach effort to promote physician and surgeon wellness. The bill would require the program to be developed within existing resources unless otherwise authorized in the annual Budget Act. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) One element in the protection of the health care consumer can be achieved by having healthy physicians and surgeons care for their patients. (b) Various studies document that stress factors in a physician and surgeon's job can significantly impact the effectiveness of patient care. (c) Studies indicate that physician stress has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, leading to physician and surgeon burnout or discontent, resulting in early retirement from practice or the pursuit of a different career. (d) Physician and surgeon's health and well-being is essential in order to maintain an adequate supply of physician and surgeons for the health care patients of California. (e) In light of these findings, it is essential that the Medical Board of California is given the authority to create a committee to provide broad oversight of these issues and address ways to encourage the continued well-being of physician and surgeons. SEC. 2. Section 2005 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read: 2005. (a) The board may establish a program to promote the issues concerning physician and surgeon well-being. This program shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) An examination and evaluation of existing wellness education for medical students, postgraduate trainees, and licensed physicians and surgeons. (2) A series of relevant articles published in the board's newsletter. (3) A consolidation of resources that promote physician and surgeon wellness. (4) An examination of incentives to encourage physicians and surgeons to become knowledgeable regarding the issues concerning their well-being. (5) An outreach effort to promote physician and surgeon wellness. (b) The program described in subdivision (a) shall be developed within existing resources unless otherwise authorized in the annual Budget Act.