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MEDICAL LICENSE DEFENSE

Austin Physician Assistant License Defense Lawyer

License Defense For Physician Assistants In Austin, TX

Physician assistants have substantially alleviated the tension of an already overburdened healthcare system, yet as they handle larger proportions of patient care, tighter regulations, and more watchful governmental supervision are certain to follow. Obtaining and preserving an unrestricted license for a PA is essential if you wish to serve the greatest number of clients in the most efficient manner possible.

Professional misconduct or a mere believed mistake can damage your career and stop you from delivering excellent care. It may feel intimidating to protect your highly valued license, yet an experienced Austin physician assistant license defense lawyer can take on much of the weighty burden for you. Reach out to ATX Legal today for a free consultation and discover how we can assist you with safeguarding your hard-earned credentials!

Understanding The Texas Physician Assistant Board

The Texas Physician Assistant Board (TPAB or the PA Board) is responsible for regulating and licensing all physician assistants in the state of Texas. Due to the tight relationship between doctors and physician assistants, TPAB shares staff, resources, and procedures with that its companion organization: The Texas Medical Board. To ensure top-notch handling of complaints as well as proper regulation within this profession, governing laws are modeled after those established by the TMV.

Over the past few years, Texas has made tremendous strides in tort reform, which resulted in more stringent regulations for healthcare professionals such as PAs. The TMB is likewise taking a stricter stance on physician regulation, meaning that it is likely that most of their PA Board staff will have a similar mindset. As such, PAs should anticipate having to handle several complaints during the course of their career and expect long investigations along with strenuous enforcement proceedings when necessary.

Investigations, Hearings & The Disciplinary Process

The medical field is strenuous and the tasks of a physician assistant are even more arduous. Patients entrust PAs with their lives, expecting quality care that may sometimes be lifesaving. It’s no wonder why individuals in this profession fully understand the hardships they face daily on every shift.

Taking any allegation of misconduct, negligence, or unethical conduct into account very gravely and without fail, the state of Texas takes measures to investigate such complaints thoroughly. Those who choose to make a complaint remain anonymous or can come from sources like competitors in the same field, employers, agencies providing insurance services, law enforcement bodies in addition to other states’ regulatory authorities and patients along with their families. Reasons for an inquiry may include but are not limited to:

  • Negligence and medical malpractice
  • Inappropriate patient relationships
  • Violating patient confidentiality
  • Practicing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Being convicted of a criminal offense
  • Improper billing practices
  • Performing unnecessary procedures

It is imperative to remember that the name of a complainant will be kept confidential from the subject PA unless they waive this confidentiality or attend certain proceedings. Even if there is not enough information initially provided to identify them, and even if they remain anonymous or wish for their identity to stay hidden during a complaint process with the Texas PA Board, credible complaints will still be pursued. If you’re facing allegations against your medical license in Texas, contact our Austin physician assistant license defense lawyer right away.

Common Complaints To The Texas Physician Assistant Board

Protecting your career and practice for the long run is essential when defending a medical license. All too often, however, physician assistants underappreciate or ignore state medical board inquiries. Unfortunately, some PAs even attempt to represent themselves in these proceedings – an incredibly risky endeavor that can lead to serious repercussions! Our Austin physician assistant license defense lawyer has extensive expertise protecting clients from various allegations including:

  • Chemical dependency Issues
  • Violating care standards
  • Undisclosed or pending criminal cases
  • Improper prescribing or dispensing of narcotics
  • Failure to comply with health and safety requirements
  • Violating medical disclosures or confidentiality
  • Failing to maintain proper certifications
  • Improper patient referrals and solicitation allegations

Working such a demanding job is difficult enough, but having to keep track of complaint resolution deadlines with the Texas Physician Assistant Board only adds more stress. Fortunately, ATX Legal takes away some of that burden by keeping you up-to-date on due dates, responding promptly when required, and staying abreast with any changes in statutes or rules throughout the drawn-out investigative process.

Compliance & Reporting of Disciplinary Actions

If a licensee has been disciplined by the PA Board, they are required to cooperate with its Compliance Department. In this role, representatives act in much the same way as probation officers do; ensuring licensees follow all terms of their order (such as taking drug tests, keeping records, and prescribing limitations). Furthermore, Probation appearances may be necessary from time to time so that modifications or early termination can be requested.

An ISC is generally the foundation of these proceedings. If an order appears to have been violated, another ISC or a temporary suspension/temporary restriction hearing may be initiated followed by a SOAH hearing. There are rare exceptions; however, most disciplinary actions will be reported publicly through websites and newsletters from the Texas Medical Board as well as other PA licensing boards. Additionally, press releases keep the media informed about any occurrences.

HIPAA Violations From Social Media

As a physician assistant, you must be aware of the risks and liabilities associated with social networking. Never post any photos or share personal details regarding patients in your posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other sites. Even if a patient publishes something about themselves on their own account, it does not mean that they are waiving their privacy rights – so take caution!

It is important that physician assistants remain aware of the consequences of engaging in social media, as it can be a long-term liability. For instance, “friending” patients on Facebook or responding to patient postings could lead to medical board repercussions. With online communications, information travels fast and far; thus any posts by Physicians Assistants will become permanent records vulnerable to scrutiny.

Contact Our Physician Assistant License Defense Attorneys

The regulations imposed on Texas physician assistants are vital to patient well-being; however, they can also become a hindrance for practitioners. It is necessary that such rules exist and be followed closely, but at times PAs may feel lost in an inflexible administrative system that does not prioritize their needs. The Texas Physician Assistant Board and Medical Board have been experiencing a growing number of complaints, which are all evaluated with circumspection.

Even if the allegations made against your license prove to be unsubstantiated, they should still be taken seriously as those who investigate you and determine whether or not you can continue practicing medicine will have professionals and legal counsel studying the case. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that any licensee retain an experienced Austin physician assistant license defense lawyer in such situations. At ATX Legal, we routinely represent medical professionals with allegations against their professional licenses. Contact our office today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.

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