Being a physician is hard, and it takes a lot of time and work to become one. That means that for those practicing in Central PA, their license isn’t just a piece of paper; it represents the dedication they’ve put into getting where they are, and it serves as the foundation of what they do. Whether you work at Penn State Health, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, WellSpan York Hospital, or a specialized place like UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers and Children’s Community Pediatrics, any issues with your license can have real consequences on your life, your reputation, and your employment.
If you or someone you know is facing licensing problems with the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, the LLF National Law Firm can help. Whether you need help responding to a complaint, navigating an investigation, or negotiating a resolution that allows you to keep your career and your life, we can be your ally at every step of the process. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation with our Professional License Defense Team.
Whether you need assistance with conduct-related issues, problems with billing, or administrative issues, the LLF National Law Firm can be your partner in protecting not just your license, but your career. You don’t have to face this alone.
License Defense in the Central PA Region
Complaints involving patient care, billing documentation, or issues of professionalism will be seen by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine for all physicians licensed in Pennsylvania and practicing in the Central PA region.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine is the institution in charge of granting licensing for physicians in the state and also the institution that has the authority to impose discipline. The discipline may be in the form of a reprimand, probation, suspension, or revocation of the license if they find enough evidence that a physician has engaged in unprofessional conduct of any kind.
In Pennsylvania, a standard disciplinary procedure will follow these steps:
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Every process will begin with a complaint filed in front of the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, via a Statement of Complaint Form on the Department’s PALS website. All complaints will be reviewed by the Board, and anyone can file a complaint, be it a patient, a colleague, or even a third party.
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At that point, the Professional Compliance Office, within the Prosecution Division of the Board’s Legal Office, will review the complaint. The initial review is focused on whether the complaint alleges conduct that may be a violation of governing laws and regulations and whether the board has jurisdiction over the alleged conduct.
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If the Compliance Office determines that an investigation is appropriate in light of the allegations, the case will be investigated by the Department’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI). BEI investigators will then interview witnesses, obtain relevant documentary evidence, and provide information to the Prosecution Division for review. Investigations can take different lengths of time depending on the complexity.
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After the investigation, the next step will either be a hearing, a dismissal of the matter, or non-disciplinary warnings or consultations.
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In the case a hearing is recommended, it will be held before a hearing examiner, board, or commission. During that hearing, whoever is presiding will decide whether the physician is guilty or innocent and impose whatever penalties it considers appropriate.
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The decision on all disciplinary matters can be appealed.
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All disciplinary actions go on to become part of the licensee’s disciplinary record and are a matter of public record.
Our Central PA Region defense work in Pennsylvania includes:
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Making sure you understand not just the charges but the disciplinary process ahead of you and how the licensing issues you are facing can affect you and your career, as well as recommending what the best options for you going forward are.
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Helping craft a response to the initial complaint, one that is clear, concise, provides the Board with the information required, but that doesn’t open you up to further inquiries down the road or possibly undermine your defense in any way.
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Be the central point of contact in all communications with the Board, including with investigators regarding any type of information or documentation they might need to clarify anything.
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Helping you prepare for interviews, making sure you are prepared for any and all lines of inquiry, and helping craft any written statements the Board requires.
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Negotiate any settlements offered to make sure they actually serve your interests, and suggest any changes that might benefit you to the Board.
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Representing you at any and all hearings, including in front of Pennsylvania courts.
If you or anyone you know is facing licensing issues or disciplinary action in the state of Pennsylvania, you don’t have to face it alone. The moment you are informed of a complaint is the moment to act. Your license is the cornerstone of your practice, and your practice is the foundation of your livelihood and your life. Don’t jeopardize it by dismissing licensing matters.
Board outcomes can influence things like hospital credentialing, medical staff status, and even employment in the Central Pennsylvania medical community. That’s where the LLF National Law Firm comes in. We can support you every step of the way, from the moment you are informed of the complaint to the hearings and even appeals. We will handle all licensing issues for you so you can handle your practice without worrying about stuff you cannot understand.
What Can Cause Physician License Problems in the Central PA Region
Facing disciplinary action doesn’t mean you’re a “bad doctor” or that you “don’t care about your patients.” But that’s often the idea that disciplinary actions send, and even if you might know this, other people around you might not. So, you want to be sure that you tackle any possible allegations immediately, so incorrect ideas don’t take root.
The Board can investigate many issues, some having to do with patient care, and some administrative, billing, and the like. In the Central PA region, most complaints against physicians typically fall into the following categories:
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Quality-of-care and clinical judgment concerns. These types of issues are very common in high-risk specialties like surgery, emergency medicine, cardiology, oncology, and intensive care.
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Issues with prescriptions, be it the dosage or the medication itself. Sometimes these issues can also be related to documentation misunderstandings.
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Documentation issues in general, whether it’s paper documentation or EMR. Examples of this include duplicated notes, incomplete forms, or discrepancies between orders, notes, and coding.
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Complaints about professionalism issues, from inappropriate relationships or harassment claims, to doctors practicing under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Administrative issues, which can include errors on licensure applications, or failure to report prior discipline from another state or agency to the Board.
As a physician, investigations are something you will have to face, and not just from your Board, but sometimes from medical staff offices, peer review committees, and corporate compliance teams at major employers like Penn State Health, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, WellSpan York Hospital, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, or Children’s Community Pediatrics. No matter where the investigation originates, it’s important to take it seriously and give it your full attention as soon as you’re notified, lest it becomes a bigger problem down the line when it’s way harder for you to properly respond.
Remember, licensing issues can jeopardize not just your license, but your career and your reputation. But the LLF National Firm can help. We can tackle any and all licensing issues so you can focus on your practice without having to worry about issues that are outside of your area of expertise. Contact the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team and safeguard your job and your future.
Help for Both Conduct-Related and Administrative Allegations
The licensing issues physicians will face will either be conduct-related or administrative, and though they might not all be serious, it’s important to treat them all like they could end up having severe consequences, because in truth, they could. Your career and your livelihood depend on how much attention you pay to these allegations, and that’s why it’s important to tackle these matters right away.
Conduct related accusations, from claims of impairment, unprofessional behavior, harassment, to inappropriate relationships, require special attention. The LLF National Law Firm can help you:
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Understand if the alleged conduct fits within Pennsylvania statutes and regulations.
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Make sure your response to the initial provides the Board with all the facts of what happens, but doesn’t open you up for further questioning.
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Plan the best way to defend yourself at every point of the process, including what to divulge, in what way to divulge it, and what concessions you should make to the Board.
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If required, develop a strategy to show the Board any changes you have made to your practice.
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When it comes to administrative, documentation, bureaucratic issues, EMR documentation problems, CME lapses, incomplete applications, failure to report prior discipline, chart deficiencies discovered during audit, or any similar matter, the LLF National Law Firm can also help.
We can assist you with:
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Clarifying what happened to make sure a mistake doesn’t end up costing you way more than it should.
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Collect any evidence you require to establish that no patients were harmed by the conduct being investigated and that there was no malicious intent.
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Help negotiate possible punishments with the Board or hospital to make sure the consequences are congruent with the alleged conduct.
Investigations against your license are serious business, and they can have serious consequences. As a physician, you have a great deal of expertise in your area and that expertise doesn’t include how to deal with the bureaucracy of licensing and disciplinary issues. But the LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team can help. We understand how licensing boards work and what the process entails, and we can handle the process for you while you focus on your practice. Let us help you.
Why You Should Not Handle License Defense Alone
Physicians study a lot to get to where they do, and sometimes the amount of training leads them to believe that if they did nothing wrong, then there’s really no need to worry. All they have to do is explain what happened, and things will go their way. But this isn’t the case. Pennsylvania licensing authorities are public protection agencies, not neutral mediators, which means they are not required to give you the benefit of the doubt, and that’s something you have to keep in mind as you navigate this process.
Especially because it means that any information you provide to the Board can be used against you, and sometimes an attempt to correct a mistake or clarify something can be portrayed as dishonesty. That’s why you need an ally by your side who understands how the process works and how the Board thinks.
The LLF National Law firm can help. We are familiar with licensing bodies in general and the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine in particular, so we can prepare for what they require and even anticipate what circumstances might make the Board push for a harsher outcome.
The LLF National Law Firm can help you make sure your story is clear, follows statutory and regulatory standards, and doesn’t invite further scrutiny. We also:
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Understand the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine processes and expectations.
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Are prepared for the ways hospital procedures interact with Board decisions in Pennsylvania and have a strategy for how to manage the two in a way that doesn’t cause conflicts.
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Can navigate Board correspondence and counsel you as to when to negotiate and when to litigate.
Physician License Defense Help in the Central PA Region
If the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine has been in contact with you regarding any issues with your license, what you do next is crucial. But you don’t have to tackle it alone.
The LLF National Law Firm represents physicians across the Central PA area in matters involving:
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Board complaints and investigations involving physicians
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Hospital and health-system peer review and medical staff disputes
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Negotiation and review of consent orders and remediation plans
If you’re facing a Board investigation or a hospital peer-review in Pennsylvania, the LLF National Law Firm can help. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form and schedule a consultation with our Professional License Defense Team.