By Attorney Kristen Nelson

Nurses play an essential role in our medical system, and both doctors and patients rely on them to provide quality care. When you have worked to obtain your professional nursing license, you will want to be sure to do everything you can to maintain that license and continue working in your chosen field. If you are facing discipline to your nursing license, you will want to work with an attorney to understand your options.

In recent months, both the State of Wisconsin and the United States Government have put healthcare providers on notice that their prescribing practices are being scrutinized. The U.S. Attorney’s offices for the State of Wisconsin have warned high prescribers of opioids that prescribing these medications when not medically necessary could lead to criminal charges. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is currently investigating high prescribers of opioids, and these healthcare providers could face sanctions against their license.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Attorneys offices in Wisconsin sent warning letters to 180 healthcare professionals in the State who have been identified by the Government as being high prescribers of opioids. This letter stated that over-prescribing these powerful and highly addictive drugs contributes to the deadly opioid crisis that has swept the country. While this letter acknowledged that these prescriptions could be “medically appropriate,” it also warned that prescribing these drugs when not “medically appropriate” could lead to criminal charges and the loss of licensure. 

A healthcare provider that received these letters should know that he/she is now on the Government’s radar, and their prescribing practice could face further scrutiny. Any healthcare provider that has received this letter and receives further contact from the Government should contact an attorney immediately. 

Wisconsin recognizes that anesthesiologists perform important work, and that is why the state requires that anesthesiologists maintain a professional license. Anesthesiologists and all other doctors are governed by the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, a division of the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and those who are facing potential discipline to their license should be sure to understand the procedures that will be followed and their options for defense.

Complaints, Investigations, and Discipline

A medical license can be lost in several ways, one of which occurs when a complaint is lodged against an anesthesiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. On average, about 500 complaints are received each year against doctors. Of these 500, about half are from patients or their family members. Other complaints are lodged by health care workers. Additionally, malpractice determinations or hospital actions reported through a national data bank make up a share of the complaints.

Once a complaint is received, state investigators ask for relevant medical files and request that the doctor submit a response. From here, the complaint is reviewed by a screening panel of the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board. This panel reviews cases each month. Typically, about two-thirds of the complaints are closed. There are two main reasons for closing a case at this stage: the complaint is minor, or the complaint cannot be proven. 

Midwives provide an essential service for many families, offering care before, during, and after the birth of a child. People who use midwives experience countless benefits, including a lower risk of the need for a cesarean section, a reduced risk of premature birth, and an overall higher level of satisfaction with the quality of care they receive.

Those who offer midwife services have made the choice to provide families with the care they need during what is often the most exciting time of their lives. However, midwives should be sure to understand their licensing requirements in Wisconsin and be aware of any issues that may result in discipline to their license.

Requirements for Obtaining a Midwife License

Modern communications technology has provided many benefits to people, including the ability to consult with doctors and medical providers remotely. Wisconsin veterinarians may also have plans to implement these types of services, but they should be aware of potential licensing issues that may arise when doing so.

Establishing a VCPR

One of the key issues for veterinarians who provide telemedicine services is the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). The Veterinary Examining Board may only discipline a vet in cases regarding his or her treatment of an animal if he or she had established a VCPR with that animal.