Could You Be Facing A Professional Licensure Investigation?

Posted by donna@healthlawcenterplc.com in Apr, 2018

The American Nurses Association – Michigan Chapter’ in its Spring newsletter, began a four-part series discussing professional licensure investigations and a health care professional’s rights when advised that such an investigation has been initiated.

So how does a licensure investigation begin? All investigations start with a complaint being filed with the Bureau of Professional Licensing. This can occur in one of two ways. If a patient, family member or another person feels that a health care professional provided substandard care or practiced outside the scope of their license, they may file a complaint with the Bureau of Professional Licensing. When the complaint is filed the individual must provide his/her name and contact information, the name of the health care professional they feel acted wrongly, a detailed description of the alleged problem or incident, including dates and locations, and the names and addresses or phone numbers of anyone who can provide supporting information.

The second and most common way a health care professional comes to the attention of the Bureau of Professional Licensing is when a health care professional’s employment or contract is suspended, terminated or his/her employment or clinical privileges are reduced, restricted or not renewed based on disciplinary action taken by the health facility. In addition, Michigan law requires a health facility to file a report with the Bureau of Professional Licensing if a health care professional resigns in lieu of being terminated by the health facility.