A Rhode Island EMT agreed to a two-week suspension of their license and a year's probation once the suspension was over after the state's Department of Health found that the EMT had failed to properly complete and submit required patient care information. In addition to the suspension and probation, the EMT agreed to take several courses focused on Rhode Island's EMT documentation requirements with the understanding that the courses would not count towards the EMT's continuing education obligations.

If you have been notified by your state licensing agency that you're under investigation for any professional license violation – whether or not it relates to failure to provide required documentation – the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Team is here to help. Our experienced attorneys understand the laws, regulations, and procedures that apply to licensed professionals, including EMTs, and can help you protect your license and your career. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help.

Patient Care Reports for EMTs in Rhode Island

Rhode Island requires EMTs to submit “electronic patient care reports” for every patient that an EMT comes into contact with in connection with “all ambulance calls.” These “ePCRs” must meet certain standards and need to be posted to the state's Emergency Medical Services Information System “within 2 hours of completion of the incident.”

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has also issued a detailed set of protocols and standing orders that apply to EMS agencies and EMTs. The protocols include a section on “Documentation” which notes that “Documentation is the highest level of the EMS healthcare professional's accountability.” They go on to state that all “patient contacts” with any ambulance service licensed in Rhode Island must be documented electronically, using a specific type of approved platform. There are requirements for the kinds of information that must be included in the patient care report as well as for documenting situations where the patient refuses care.

The EMT's Failure to File Patient Care Reports

In this case, the Rhode Island EMT admitted that they had failed to submit 47 ePCRs for patients with whom the EMT had been in contact. They also admitted that they had failed to get signatures from patients who had refused care. Finally, they admitted that they had had “a junior healthcare provider” submit the required information for 24 patients where the EMT was the primary healthcare provider, and thus had the responsibility to submit the ePCRs.

The EMT consented to the RIDOH's two-week suspension of their license, the one-year probation period following that, and the educational requirements in settlement of the allegations.

What to Do if You're Being Investigated for Professional License Violations

The best thing you can do if you've been notified that you're under investigation by your state's professional licensing agency for possible disciplinary violations is to contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team as soon as possible. Our experienced attorneys have helped licensed professionals – including EMTs – all across the country protect their rights, their licenses, and their livelihoods when faced with a disciplinary investigation.

In many cases, addressing the issue early on can help significantly when it comes to resolving the matter in a way that protects your license and your career. That's why if you're facing accusations of professional misconduct, you should call the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team as soon as you can. We can be reached at 888.535.3686 or you can use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help.