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Avoiding a Sexual Misconduct Claim
Here in the state of Illinois, medical employees are monitored and regulated by the Illinois Medical Board. With over 3,000 complaints made each year against medical personnel, the disciplinary bBoard will usually launch an investigation in order to fully understand the situation. If the board ultimately decides that the complaint was made on valid grounds, disciplinary action could include suspension or revocation of your medical license. While a complaint can be lodged for a number of reasons, one of the most common reasons for a complaint is a consumer complaining of sexual misconduct from a medical professional. Below we will examine the steps you can take to avoid a sexual misconduct claim.
Steps You Can Take
When a sexual misconduct claim is filed against you, the results can threaten your family’s livelihood. According to a study conducted by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, more than 2,400 doctors have been sanctioned for sexual misconduct nationwide over the past two decades. Here are three simple steps you can take to avoid a complaint or ensure that a false-accusation will not cost you your job:
Nursing Violations That Could Result in Disciplinary Action
Here in the state of Illinois, nursing professionals are monitored and regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), as well as the Illinois Board of Nursing. Nursing can be an incredibly gratifying career path, but also comes with a wide array of challenges.
Nurses are routinely asked to treat for injured and sick patients, provide emotional support and advice to families, assist doctors in the process of diagnosis, and file paperwork. If mistakes are made throughout these processes, nurses can face investigations from the IDFPR or the Illinois Board of nursing, and potentially lose their nursing license. If you believe that your nursing license may be at risk, seek out legal assistance, immediately.
Costly Nursing Mistakes
When a nursing professional acts negligently, the ramifications can be significant. Whether your actions are strictly negligent mistakes or reckless forms of malpractice, an investigation from the IDFPR can ultimately cost you your livelihood. Listed below, are some of the most commonly investigated forms of nursing error.
When a Medical Professional Needs Legal Help
Members of the medical community are held to an incredibly high standard. Due to the manner in which an error or negligent act can impact a patient, a mistake can cost a medical employee their medical license. Here in the state of Illinois, the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Board is in charge of responding to complaints made against medical personnel. Every year, the Disciplinary Board receives approximately 3,000 complaints. If a complaint is filed against you, it is important to act quickly and seek out legal guidance immediately.
Mistakes That Could Cost You
Medical professionals are under an incredible amount of pressure. Long hours, rigorous work days, and the pressure of life or death operations, are all aspects of life as a medical worker. Due to the stressors of medical work, it is not uncommon for mistakes to occur. Listed below are some of the most common mistakes, that could potentially cost you your medical license.
Mistakes that Could Cost You Your Hospital Privileges
Throughout the United States, hundreds of physicians are accused of misconduct each year. Many of these complaints are founded on false or inaccurate claims. Regardless of whether or not the claim of misconduct was founded on a false accusation, a physician can lose medical staff membership and privileges. If an accusation of misconduct is deemed serious, you could face a medical license review from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). In the event of a misconduct accusation, seek out the help of a legal professional immediately.
Common Physician Mistakes
When a physician makes a mistake, the error can have major impacts on a patient’s health. Due to this, hospitals hold all of their employees to incredibly high standards. Below are some of the most common errors that can cost a physician hospital privileges.
Mistreatment of Other Hospital Employees: Many misconduct complaints are placed due to abuse of co-workers. If you yell or verbally abuse a fellow hospital employee, you are likely in violation of hospital policy. If you are unwilling to accept criticism from coworkers or speak to other employees in a derogatory manner in the aftermath of a mistake, you could face a misconduct claim. It is important to note that any inappropriate or abusive conduct in the presence of a patient, is likely to lead to a medical license review.
The Impacts of Chiropractic Error
On an annual basis, approximately 22 million Americans visit chiropractors, for a number of medical reasons. Chiropractic treatment can alleviate neck and back pain, anxiety, and even chronic headaches. After a quality visit with a chiropractor, patients often claim to experience increased energy, healthier sleep patterns, and substantial decrease in pain.
All that considered, negligent chiropractors can cause irreparable harm to patients. When a patient visits a chiropractor, they are putting their trust and physical health in the hands of a professional. Here in the state of Illinois, chiropractors are supervised and regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Chiropractic malpractice can come with serious ramifications, include loss of your medical license. If an investigation has been opened against your chiropractic firm, seek out legal assistance immediately.
Reacting to a DEA Investigation
If you are a healthcare provider that prescribes controlled substances, you are being monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Due to the potential for illegal activity in the pharmacy business, DEA inspectors visit pharmacies to ensure that they are complying with all regulatory standards. If the DEA pays a visit to your pharmacy, it is important to react in a calm and professional manner. Still, a DEA investigation can lead to harsh punishments and even license revocation. If you are facing a DEA investigation, contact a license defense attorney that you can believe in.
Preparing for a DEA Visit
Due to the implementation of the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA is allowed to inspect a pharmacy, investigate the receiving and distribution of controlled substances, and even take substance samples. How you react to a DEA visit can make all the difference in ensuring that the investigation goes smoothly.
The Importance of the Hiring Process for a Physical Therapy Practice
When you make the decision to open up a physical therapy office, you are dedicating your life to facilitating the physical healing of injured patients. The decision to become a physical therapist is likely one that stems from a want to nurture and heal. Unfortunately, not all physical therapists have the same moral compass, and you can lose your physical therapy license if you hire someone that acts in a negligent manner. If the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), begins investigating your practice, it is time to seek out quality legal assistance.
Common Forms of Employee Negligence
When hiring employees to work with you in your physical therapy practice, it is important to educate them on potential malpractice risks, while also spending extensive time looking into their background and previous work experience. Any form of negligent acts they commit while working for you could result in a loss of your professional license.
Consult With an Attorney Before Voluntarily Surrendering Your DEA Registration and Signing a DEA 104 Form
In light of the current opioid epidemic in the United States, state and federal governments – as well as state boards of pharmacy and medicine – have ramped up their investigations into suspected improper prescribing habits. In particular, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is aggressively reviewing prescription and medical records for pharmacists and physicians who hold DEA registrations.
Increasingly, these DEA registrants are reporting that DEA agents are appearing unannounced at their homes or businesses to interview the registrants and inspect the premises for evidence of wrongdoing. In most cases, the agents then ask the registrants to sign what’s called a 104 Form, whereby the registrant voluntarily surrenders his or her DEA registration. The agents assure the registrant that the surrender is temporary and that he/she can get his/her registration back “in a few weeks” as long as they cooperate with the investigation.
What Does a Healthcare Professional Do When They Are Notified By the OIG That They May Be Excluded From Medicare or Medicaid?
First, you should contact an attorney, one that is knowledgeable in this area. Exclusion from the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) is a serious matter for all healthcare professionals and healthcare providing entities like hospitals or surgical centers. Exclusion by the OIG can lead to exclusion from participation in Medicare or Medicaid. OIG exclusion can be done for many reasons, ranging from a conviction related to controlled substances, fraudulent billing for healthcare services not provided, or discipline by a healthcare regulatory board. Most exclusions are mandatorily implemented by the OIG. The duration of exclusion by the OIG can vary from three to seven years or longer. This can be a serious consequence for any healthcare provider. It means that the provider or entity cannot collect payments from Medicaid or Medicare for providing services to those beneficiaries. For most practicing healthcare professionals, Medicare and Medicaid patients make up to 50% of their practice or more, depending.
The Most Common Forms of Dentistry Error
Every single year, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), receive thousands of medical malpractice complaints. Health professionals throughout the state, have to adhere to the standards set by the IDFPR, and if they are unable to do so, could potentially lose their license. For dentists, medical malpractice complaints are much more common than they would like to admit. If you are facing a complaint or other licensing issue from the Illinois Dental Board (which operates as a branch of the IDFPR), it is time to seek out professional legal assistance.
Mistakes You Could Make
While the vast majority of Americans put complete trust in medical experts, all professionals are humans, and mistakes can occur in any occupation. For dentists, a medical error can come with costly ramifications. Below are some of the most common forms of medical malpractice in the field of dentistry.
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