Arizona Attorney Robert Chelle

Oxygen Microparticles

admin — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:32:33 +0000

It is exciting to think how far medicine will progress in the next few decades. In a new study, published in Science Translational Medicine, Dr. John Kheir from Boston Children’s Hospital and colleagues have developed microparticles filled with oxygen gas that can be injected directly into the bloodstream. The particles release oxygenated gas that can keep organs, such as the brain, from suffocating.

Here is a link to the story from ScienceNow.

Change to Arizona Nursing Board Online Verification Policy

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:34:02 +0000

The Arizona Board of Nursing (“Board“) has recently instituted a new policy regarding what information is displayed on the Board Website’s Online Verification. The new policy holds that the Online Verification will no longer display “Complain/Self-Report” or “Under Investigation” next to a nurses name until after the Board has heard the nurse’s case at a Board Meeting.

Previously, as soon as a complaint or self-report was submitted to the Board the website would immediately update to show that the nurse was under investigation by displaying “Complaint/Self-Report” next to a nurse’s name. This practice made it difficult for a nurse to obtain new employment due to the uncertainty of the Board investigation. The nurse would be forced to explain the situation to potential employers, and very few health care facilities in Arizona are willing to employ a nurse under investigation. Even if the nurse was completely innocent of the allegations contained in the Complaint; it still proved difficult to find new employment.

The new policy provides the nurse with the benefit of the doubt until the investigation has gone before the Board for an initial decision regarding whether disciplinary action will be levied against the nurse or not.

Although this is a positive development for the nurses of Arizona it is important that all employment applications submitted to potential employers contain accurate information! If you were terminated from a position do not state that you left on your own accord. The Board does not look favorably upon individuals that are untruthful on employment applications!

If you have any questions regarding the new Arizona Board of Nursing Online Verification policy please contact Attorney Robert Chelle.

Felony Conviction Bar for Arizona Nurses

admin — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:31 +0000

The number of applicants in Arizona that applied for nursing licenses or certificates between 1995 and 2008 increased by 1400%. The sheer volume of nursing applicants caused the Arizona Legislature to take action and create Senate Bill 1096 (“SB1096”) that bars nursing applicants from certification and licensure if they have prior felony convictions. However, the felony bar is lifted five years after their felony sentencing has been completed successfully.

Through this bill, the Arizona Board of Nursing (“Board”) may initiate disciplinary proceedings to revoke their application, renewal or reactivation against nurses who failed to disclose a felony conviction. SB1096 also give the Department of Public Safety the right to finger print nurses in order to obtain any state or federal criminal history on the person. The reasoning behind a five year bar from nursing is to allow the individual enough time to prove they are safe to practice, in addition to, handling restitution issues with their victim(s) resulting from their felony conviction.

In 2010 the state of Arizona made a slight change to SB1096 and Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) § 13-604(A). The change allows the Board to treat an undesignated offense that occurs/occurred after 23 July 2010 as a felony until the court actually enters an order designating the offense a misdemeanor.

If you have questions regarding how a past or present felony conviction can affect your status with the Arizona Board of Nursing contact us today.

Arizona Health Care Professional DUI

admin — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:23:39 +0000

A celebration at a bar with friends may sound like a great night out but it can quickly spiral into an extremely stressful and exhausting experience if you get slapped with a drunk driving arrest because you made a poor decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence. Driving while under the influence can lead to some serious repercussions such as fines, license suspensions and even jail time. For medical professionals, however, the repercussions could cost you your career.

Many health care professionals believe that a DUI will not affect their medical license because it relates to conduct outside of their professional practice, but the reality is that their licensing Board does care about what happens when you are a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional ‘off-duty.’

All health care professionals are required to report any drunk driving charge to their Board within ten (10) business days after the date of the charge. By being proactive, you can mitigate the collateral damage caused by a misdemeanor DUI conviction. The notification must be a written report and it must paint the incident and the medical professional’s background in the best possible light. Once the Board has received this written report, they are required to open an investigation which will include an in-person interview with a trained investigator for the Board’s investigation department.

Holding a health care license exposes you to an increased risk of negative collateral consequences in comparison to the other drivers on the road, however if you are a licensed medical professional and charged with a DUI, it is crucial to take the necessary steps to minimize any potential disciplinary action from the Board. Disciplinary sanctions may be imposed against you if you are convicted the penalties may fine, community service, probation or even a suspension or loss of your medical license.

If you are a medical professional charged with a DUI, it is essential that you hire an experienced attorney who can help you understand your case, your rights, and help you protect your future and your medical career.

Arizona Medical License

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:28:01 +0000

The Arizona Medical Board regulates those engaged in the practice of medicine in Arizona. The Board governs the issuance of licenses, registrations and certificates for individuals. The Board initiates investigations into complaints and self-reports concerning a nurse’s possible non-compliance with the law, and determines and administers disciplinary actions if it is determined that Arizona’s Medical Practice Act has been violated.