Missing the Deadline to Renew Your License Could Jeopardize Your Career
The reasons Rhode Island EMT Joshua Gigliette failed to renew his license before it expired, and his rationale for continuing to provide patient care nonetheless, may be known only to himself. What we do know is that he acted as either the primary or secondary patient care provider on at least 287 calls, according to Pawtucket, RI, emergency response logs, in the months after his license expired.
We also know that Rhode Island’s emergency medicine licensing board is taking Giglietti’s actions very seriously, issuing a Consent Order in the case pending further investigation. Reinstatement of the license — which is not guaranteed at this point — could come with 18 months of probation and a requirement for additional professional training.
In a letter accompanying the Consent Order, the Rhode Island Department of Health Center for Emergency Medical Services informed Giglietti that the Order is “a legal document that may obligate you to take certain actions that take time, cost money, or both.” Because the stakes are so high, the letter encourages Giglietti to “retain legal counsel before signing this Consent Order” to make sure he understands all of its terms.
This is solid advice. The Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm knows how to navigate complicated licensing board processes and how to work with state licensing boards when problems arise. Call us today at 888-535-3686 to talk about the challenges you’re dealing with, or send us a message online. We’re ready to get to work protecting your license now.
Investigated by Your Licensing Board? Keep Your Cool.
The bureaucracy of licensing, especially when the license is in jeopardy, can be formidable — and a single misstep can mean you lose more than your job: you could lose your career.
In Rhode Island, as in most other states, the state’s medical licensing authority will launch an investigation into an EMT’s conduct and license eligibility in response to a complaint. Many times, these complaints are filed by patients alleging inadequate care or outright harm. But your coworkers or employer could also file against you, alleging unprofessional conduct, fraud, or just a licensing irregularity.
This latter scenario could be the way the Rhode Island board learned that Giglietti was going out on calls with the Pawtucket Fire Department and providing paramedic care on an expired EMT license. Once it receives a complaint, the next step for any state’s medical licensing board is to begin an investigation. This typically involves dispatching an investigator to interview you, the complainant, and any other relevant persons.
These investigators often have excellent people skills, but don’t be fooled: anything you say to them might be used against you in some unforeseen way later on. The best course of action here is to keep quiet and immediately enlist the LLF National Law Firm for guidance and assistance. We’ll guide you through the labyrinth of the investigation and adjudication process, and make sure your side of the case is fully and clearly represented before the board.
Protect Your License
The LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team has helped paramedics, EMTs, nurses, clinicians, and other medical professionals across the country navigate the bureaucracy at their licensing board, making sure they get the best possible outcome in their case. We can help you, too. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or send us a message online, and we’ll get to work for you.