In California, the Veterinary Medical Board has a right to inspect “at any time” any “premises in which veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced.”[1] The Board regularly carries out two kinds of inspections – routine inspections and inspections following a complaint to the Board. Violations found Read more…
The most frequently cited deficiency in a California Veterinary Medical Board (“VMB”) audit of a veterinary hospital is poor record-keeping. The VMB takes the stance that if it’s not in the medical records, it didn’t happen. Disciplinary action includes the denial, revocation, probation, or suspension of a license or a citation or Read more…
Time and time again, we hear the story of a physician who is “invited” by an investigator from the Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”), Investigations Unit, to meet on behalf of the Medical Board of California (“Board”). Whether resulting from the investigator luring the physician or the seeming innocuous nature Read more…
In our last two installments, we discussed the circumstances under which a health care provider is and is not required to provide you access to your medical records. Today, we will look at what you can do if you are entitled to access, but your provider is unable or unwilling Read more…
For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, Medical Board of California administrative actions: There were a total of 317 administrative actions taken against physicians and surgeons. The highest amount of actions resulted from gross negligence/incompetence. Out of the 125 actions, 70 of them resulted in public reprimand. Four resulted in revocation of Read more…
New Fees As of March 1st, 2012, the Veterinary Medical Board has imposed new fees for Veterinarians and Registered Veterinarian Technicians. The increases range from $20 to $100. Fee Type Fee prior to March 1, 2012 Fee after March 1, 2012 Application Review $100 $125 California State Board Examination $150 Read more…
Previously, we discussed a patient’s right to access their records maintained by a health care professional. However, these rights are not without some exception. A health care provider has the right to deny access to medical records to an individual who would otherwise be entitled to them in the following Read more…
Under California law patients have a guaranteed right to access to their medical records. This is made clear by the plain language of Health & Safety Code § 1231001, which reads, in relevant part, as follows: The Legislature finds and declares that every person having ultimate responsibility for decisions respecting Read more…
Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) are a paraprofessional class of employee that assist veterinarians in the health care of animals and the analysis of animal disease. To be a RVT, one must have completed a Veterinary Medical Board (VMB)-approved education and training program and passed a State of California licensing examination. RVTs Read more…
Recently, three U.S. Senators have asked federal health officials to review the way state medical boards regulate our nation’s physicians. This request was prompted by recent reports from a citizen’s watchdog group and three newspapers, including the Star Tribune, that “highlighted disturbing failures of state medical boards to discipline physicians,” Read more…