TOP 10 Laws and Rules Every Physician Should Know

The following information is being provided as a resource to remind you of important laws and rules that affect your medical practice, but is not all inclusive. Although this applies to my state of Florida it is still your responsibility to read and become familiar with the laws and rules of your state.


Florida Law and/or Rule
1. You must update your Practitioner Profile within 15 days

Description
s. 456.042, F.S. This includes changes in –
• Address
• Staff privileges
• Medical malpractice history
• Financial responsibility
• Board certification
• Education
• Disciplinary/criminal history


Florida Law and/or Rule
2. Before you move to a new practice, notify the Board

Description
s. 456.035, F.S.; s. 458.319(3), F.S.; s. 458.327(2)(e), F.S. No current address on file? Here is what can happen:
• crisis at renewal time
• late renewal may mean practicing on an inactive license
• practice on inactive license = criminal offense


Florida Law and/or Rule
3. Do not pre-sign prescriptions

Description
s. 458.331(1)(aa), F.S. Board of Medicine Disciplinary Guidelines provide a maximum penalty of -
• Reprimand
• $5,000 fine
• 2 years probation

Florida Law and/or Rule
4. At license renewal, read the fine print before you renew

Description
s. 458.319, F.S. • It is your license on the line, not your office manager’s!
• CME and Financial Responsibility requirements are audited
• Maintain copies of your CME certificates for at least 2 biennium
• DIDN’T RECEIVE YOUR RENEWAL POSTCARD? Call (850) 488-0595 extension #3
• RENEW ONLINE at https://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/mqaservices/login.asp
• The Preventing of Medical Errors course has specific requirements including a study of root cause analysis, error reduction, prevention and patient safety, and the 5 most mis-diagnosed medical conditions which are:
• cancer
• cardiac
• acute abdomen
• timely diagnosis of surgical complications
• stroke and related cranial conditions

• CME providers may be located on the Internet by typing “continuing medical education” in the search field, or by contacting the American Medical Association at (312) 464-4952.

Florida Law and/or Rule
5. You must keep charts on the family, employees and friends that you treat

Description
s. 458.331(1)(r), F.S. and s. 458.331(1)(m), F.S. • A prescription creates the physician/patient relationship
• Records are required even for family
• Spouses/friends may become adverse parties
• Cannot self-prescribe controlled substances

Florida Law and/or Rule
6. Patient Boundaries

Description
S. 458.329, F.S. and s. 458.331(1)(j), F.S. State Boards of Medicine should have a zero tolerance policy on physician/patient sexual misconduct
• Typical penalty is suspension/revocation
• Remember: A prescription creates a physician/patient relationship


Florida Law and/or Rule
7. Pause before you make the incision on the correct site of the correct patient

Description
s. 458.331(1)(t), F.S.; s. 456.072, F.S.; and Rule 64B8-9.007, F.A.C. • The “pause” before the procedure must be in the patient chart
• If you make the mistake, inform the patient and/or the patient’s representative and document it or the Board will increase the penalty.
• Read the rule at 64B8-9.007 Standards of Practice.

Florida Law and/or Rule
8. Internet Prescribing

Description
s. 458.331(1)(t), F.S. and Rule 64B8-9.014, FAC • Prescribing without a history and physical is both a standard of care violation and a violation of Board rule
• Physician have been disciplined for this with penalties ranging from revocation to suspension, reprimands and fines
• DO NOT JEOPARDIZE YOUR LICENSE – DON’T PRESCRIBE BASED ON INTERNET & QUESTIONNAIRES!


Florida Law and/or Rule
9. Relocating Practice?

Description
Rule 64B8-10.002, FAC You are responsible to:
• hold patient records for 5 years
• notify patients in letters or by sign as to where to pick up records
• place a notice in newspapers and notify the Board of Medicine 30 days before you move
• complete your hospital charts if leaving the area!

Florida Law and/or Rule
10. Help for impaired practitioners

Description
s. 456.076, F.S. Do you know a colleague with drug, alcohol, or psychiatric problems?
• You can get them help without subjecting them to disciplinary action
• Most state Boards have an excellent evaluation and rehabilitation programs that is a phone call away: Call your state’s Professional Resource Network
• For most practitioners, this is and remains a confidential process that offers help to those willing to change
• This program was recently expanded to include medical students as well


Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

* Tune in tomorrow for Circumcision Prevents Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

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