RD116 - Biennial Report for the Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004 - Regulating Healthcare Professionals


Executive Summary:
[This report was modified on 06/01/05 by adding an errata sheet beginning on page 68.]

OUR MISSION:

To assure the safe and competent delivery of health care to the citizens of the Commonwealth

OUR VISION:

To face the challenges of an increasingly complex health care environment by:

• Licensing applicants who meet defined standards as determined by law and regulation.

• Issuing licenses or permits to specified health related businesses that are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and inspecting to verify continued compliance.

• Ensuring occupational competency by monitoring and enforcing continuing education or experience requirements, as required by law and/or regulation.

• Enforcing compliance with legal policies and assuring professional accountability through diligent investigation of complaints, application of established standards, and objective disciplinary decisions while ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of health professionals.

• Conducting facility inspections to assure the safety and integrity of drugs and medical devices, and to prevent pharmaceutical drug diversion.

• Studying, evaluating and recommending the appropriate type and degree of regulation, based on verifiable research outcomes, for health professions and occupations.

• Maximizing the use of advanced information systems and internet technology in sharing accurate, timely information with all types of consumers for their use in health care decisions; and to facilitate the delivery of other appropriate services to patients, clients, applicants and licensees.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Department of Health Professions (DHP) is a state agency created to safeguard high quality and readily available health care services. DHP’s work is based on the independent oversight of both individuals and facilities regulated by the Commonwealth.

2003-2004 Biennial Report

This report has been prepared as required by the Code of Virginia § 54.1-114 which requests:

1. a summary of the board’s fiscal affairs
2. a description of the board’s activities
3. statistical information regarding board disciplinary issues
4. a summary of complaints and follow-up actions
5. board activities designed to increase its visibility and encourage public participation.

It also includes in its appendices specific statistical information as requested by § 54.1-2400.3 that has not been reported in prior biennial reports:

1. case processing time
2. licensees with more than two Confidential Consent agreements attendant to a standard of care issue within a ten-year time frame
3. disciplinary case staffing levels

Healthcare issues of concern to the Department of Health Professions during the fiscal years 2003 and 2004, are noted, reflecting the activities undertaken to promote better, more accessible health care provided by any of the health related occupations licensed or regulated under the legal requirements of the State of Virginia.

The core of this report is prepared from information generated by each of the thirteen individual health regulatory boards, the new Prescription Monitoring Program, and the Health Practitioners Intervention Program as well as the oversight element, the Board of Health Professions.

Every board has provided a summary of its activities for the past two fiscal years to include information on 1) regulations changed, adopted or repealed, 2) new initiatives implemented, and 3) trends in licensing and disciplinary cases. Other information germane to the operation of an individual board may be included as well if it is considered a significant event or influence.