Health License Defense

Anne Mitchell was found not guilty. Yea!!!

The Texas Nurse Association has been tracking this case closely and is in attendance at the trial. TNA has also set up a legal defense fund and provided letters in support of the nurses’ actions. Here is their account of the daily ongoings , quoted from texasnurse.org,
Update: Wednesday, February 10
Andrews Courthouse – On [...]

The trial began on February 8, 2010 with jury selection.  Prior to the trial, one of the two nurses, Vicki Galle,  originally indicted was dismissed from the case.  Anne Mitchell’s trial involves felony charges for mis-using private, patient files to harass the County hospital’s doctor.  On February 9, 2010, testimony began in the trial.   The [...]

Texas Medical Board staff met with the representatives of the Texas Nursing Board and the Department of Public Safety regarding prescriptive delegation for mid-level providers.  They discussed the two methods that mid-level providers to prescribe scheduled drugs:
 (1) The mid-level providers can obtain there own certification with the DEA and DPS.  Their individual certification number must [...]

As previous noted in the blog, the 2009 Fiscal Year was a big on for the number of investigations and Informal Settlement Conferences for the Texas Medical Board.  Last fiscal year (Runs September 1 to August 31) the Board held 700 ISCs, 200 more than in FY 2008. 
 Based on a report by the Executive Director [...]

The following is a brief, but interesting story regarding disruptive behavior in the medical profession. 
By Andis Robeznieks
Posted: November 4, 2009 – 4:45 pm EDT
Behavior problems between doctors and nurses were reported by more than 97% of the nurses and doctors who participated in an American College of Physician Executives’ survey, which found that the most [...]

Board rule 170.3 basically provides a step-by-step guideline on how to document the treatment of pain.  The key to documenting the treatment of pain is to describe one’s legitimate medical purpose for the treatment of pain, based “upon accepted scientific knowledge of the treatment of pain.”  The Board basically wants one to follow five (5) [...]

Society in general holds physicians in a unique position.  Their opinions are generally well respected and placed in a position of trust.  There are times when patients approach physicians with business opportunities, either to invest funds in a project, in trade for services, or as a side-business.  Such a financial relationship is not a per [...]

If you are a physician, are you expected to be a perfect citizen, a perfect person everyday for as long as you hold a medical license? Many people believe that is your professional obligation. Some profess that doctors hold a special place in our society, and must be above reproach. Some believe that who are [...]

The following is a question that I have received lots of e-mails and phone calls on regarding the Physicians Health Program (PHP) that is set to be operational in January 2010.
What is the TMB doing with rehab cases that either have not yet had an ISC or do not have an Order which [...]