The Georgia Medical Board's only authority is to review quality of care issues or other professional conduct issues as they may relate to enforcement of the Medical Practice Act. Who can inject botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers in Georgia? Instead of addressing your letter (please refer to previous question) to an individual physician, you should call the hospital and find out who is in charge of the Medical Records Department for the hospital. You can also search for a licensed individual. However, the matter is closed with a private agreement between the licensee and the board. While medical boards find it necessary to suspend or revoke licenses when appropriate, some problems can be . If the complaint results in a public board order, the nature of the complaint may be determined from the "Findings of Fact" in the public board order and therefore becomes public information. In these situations, the case will be sent back to the investigative unit for further information. Dr. Atkinson joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in 2008 as an associate medical examiner. If the complaint does not result in a public board order, then the complaint remains a part of the investigative file and is not released. If a licensee refuses to sign an order the case may then go to a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. The results of investigations by agents are also evaluated by Board members to determine if there are violations of Board rules or Laws and to determine if any discipline and/or prosecutions are warranted. You, as a health care consumer, may access information from the Medical Board that may be useful in your decision to choose a health care provider. Certified, Criminal Investigator. Cases accepted for examination are transported to the respective laboratory by transport services provided by the county where the death occurred, where the body was found, or where the incident that led to the death occurred. to view the Board's most recent annualreport. The Board only has jurisdiction over the practitioner's license. He also completed a forensic pathology fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. The disciplinary procedure is lengthy and may take months to complete. Dr. Natasha GrandhiAssociate Medical Examiner. The Board reviews complaints reported to it from a variety of sources, including patients, family members and others advocating on behalf of patients, GCMB licensees, other health care professionals such as nurses or pharmacists, and, at times, law enforcement. In most cases, the physician may terminate a doctor-patient relationship upon giving the patient adequate written notice, preferably through certified mail. The Investigations and Discipline rules of the Georgia Medical Board, (Rule 360-3.02 and 360-3-.04), also provide additional examples of unprofessional conduct for which a licensee may be disciplined. Some examples are requiring supervision by another provider, restricting certain procedures, requiring the licensee to undergo additional training or to undergo medical or psychiatric treatment. The Richmond County Coroner's Office is investigating the death of 51-year-old inmate, Patrick Logan of Grovetown However, remember, the complaint process is a lengthy investigative process and may not be the best route to follow if you need your records on an urgent basis. Private action is taken, such as a confidential letter of concern (LOC) to the licensee or a request that the licensee attend a private meeting to discuss their conduct with members of the Board. The Medical Board web site can tell you whether or not a doctor is licensed, has had public board orders and provides additional information, such as certain malpractice settlements or judgments, reported by the physician on the physician's profile. Send a certified letter to the doctor asking for a copy of your medical records. The ultimate responsibility is on the patient to know what procedures the insurance company will or will not cover. In addition to physicians, PAs can inject toxins and fillers with a Board approved job description and Additional Duty Request, and APRNs with a Board approved protocol agreement and Form C. RNs do not have prescriptive authority, but can inject with appropriate training and a written order from a physician. The Board may adopt modify and adopt or reject the ALJs decision. The state medical board identifies individuals and intuitions with relevant information. It has a staff of 31. Click to access the repository of current rules and laws of the GCMB. Does this mean the Georgia Medical Board considers my doctor a "bad" doctor? In Georgia, the medical board is supported by the state's general fund, a scenario that pits it against other budget priorities. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. This process is as follows: If the Board adopts the ALJ decision the licensee may appeal, the process is as follows: 1. Following that, she finished another fellowship, this one in forensic pathology, at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in 2002. 31-33-3(a). Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. Laboratory in Decatur (Atlanta) and in the regional laboratories in Maconand Pooler (Savannah). After the formal hearing is conducted, the administrative law judge issues a ruling (Initial Decision and recommended disciplinary action). Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Which Legal Entity is Right for Your Business, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Elections and Voter Registration Calendars, Investor Education and Protection Resources, Registering and Notice Filing a Securities Offering, General Provisions and Joint Secretary Proposed Rules, Professional Counseling | Social Work | Marriage & Family Counseling, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts, Professional Licensing Board Rules and Regs, How A Loan Defaults Or Child Support Can Impact Your License, The Licensing Division of the Georgia Secretary of States Office. The case is closed and kept on file in the licensees confidential permanent file. COMPLAINTS: Will I be told the status of my complaint? My doctor is no longer in practice, (or my doctor is deceased). The Investigative Committee recommendation may or may not differ from the preliminary recommendation prepared by either of the Boards medical directors. Dr. Rachel GellerAssociate Medical Examiner, Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program Director. Dr. Geoffrey Smith Please mail your complaint to: Composite State Board of Medical Examiners to File a Complaint by Mail? An official website of the State of Georgia. The following data elements on the Board's website should be considered as primary source verification: License number. The Board's investigative files are confidential. Following completion of an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Emory University in 2019, she completed a pediatric pathology fellowship at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University in 2020. Autopsies are conducted by GBI medical examiners at the. COMPLAINTS: What complaints are within the Board's jurisdiction? State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. Dr. Reynolds then completed a one year fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, VA. According to Board Rule 360-3-.02(12), it is unprofessional conduct for a physician to conduct such an examination of a patient of the opposite sex without a chaperone present. Any other pertinent information, which includes supporting documents (i.e. This information is posted on the licensees public license record. 2 Peachtree Street, N.W., 6th Floor. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records under most circumstances after providing the physician with a signed release and paying the required fees as set by state law. Therefore, the Medical Board is prohibited by state statute from disclosing to the public investigative information or complaint information. O.C.G.A 31-33-3(a) - provides the fees that a physician may charge for copying and mailing patient records. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. OIG Programs To Report Fraud TheGeorgia Composite Medical Board(GCMB) is the licensing agency forphysicians, physician assistants, respiratory care professionals, perfusionists, acupuncturists, orthotists, prosthetists, auricular (ear) detoxification specialists, residency training permits, cosmetic laser practitioners, pain management clinics and medical geneticist. The Georgia Composite Medical Board is the agency that licenses physicians, physician assistants, respiratory care professionals, perfusionists, acupuncturists, orthotists, prosthetists, auricular (ear) detoxification specialists, genetic counselors, cosmetic laser practitioners and pain management clinics. Atlanta, Georgia 30303. The physician also receives formal notice of the complaint as well as any record requests. Certified, Criminal Investigator. No. Complainants are notified when a case is closed and are provided with general information about how it was resolved. Certified, Criminal Investigator. The Georgia Medical Board has no authority to intervene in insurance or billing disputes between a physician and a patient. endstream endobj startxref What can the Georgia Medical Board do if I think the doctor has charged me too much? The Department of Community Health's affiliated agency, the Georgia Board of Dentistry is seeking a P.O.S.T. Patients should not rely solely on the information provided by the physician's office, as ultimately, you are financially responsible for all authorized medical procedures. She completed a forensic pathology fellowship at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland in 2019, where she was subsequently employed as an assistant medical examiner. These cases typically involve public safety issues such as the licensee is not fit to practice, public safety concerns, violation of board rules and laws, sexual misconduct, and other violations of board rules and laws. How you know. hbbd```b``,Xdd 4] &OH'\H2^.@LlA@H 3 ' An official website of the State of Georgia. About The Georgia Composite Medical Board . Complaints are given serious consideration by the board, and further investigative action may be taken, if appropriate. What does it mean if a physician's license status is listed as Probation, Suspension or Revocation? An official website of the State of Georgia. The Georgia Composite Medical Board protects the health of Georgians through the proper licensing of physicians and enforcement of the Medical Practice Act. Insurance billing complaints should be referred to the Office of Insurance Commissioner. At some point in this procedure a hearing may be required. My insurance company won't pay the bill, now the doctor is billing me! Inability to practice medicine by reason of mental or physical impairment (alcohol or chemical abuse, mental or physical condition). Be sure to give the names, telephone numbers and addresses of all parties involved in your complaint. Return To Medical Examiner's Office Home Page. This is a business decision made by your doctor's office and is a standard part of the physician's practice. 1608 0 obj <>stream Medical Board members devote much personal time and attention to overseeing the practice of physicians and other allied health care professionals by reviewing complaints from consumers, malpractice data, information from hospitals, other health care institutions and reports from other government agencies. Welcome to the GBI The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is an independent, statewide agency that supports the state's criminal justice system in the areas of criminal investigations, forensic laboratory services and computerized criminal justice information. <