Annual report, 2014 [Dec. 2014]

Georgia Composite Medical Board Newsletter and FY 2014 Annual Report

Volume 2015, No. 1

December 2014

Board Releases New Cosmetic Laser Practitioner Application and Guidelines

Need to renew your license, order a new card or wall certificate, or update your address? Click the above code or scan with your smartphone or device!

The Georgia Composite Medical Board approved and released the application and guidelines for the state's new cosmetic laser practitioner license on Thursday, August 7, 2014. The Board's publication of the application signaled the implementation of House Bill 528, the Georgia Cosmetic Laser Services Act.

Inside this issue:
Telemedicine rule balances access and patient safety, page 2
Retterbush elected Chair, page 3
Board publishes individual malpractice coverage data, page 4
Annual report data, page 5

The Cosmetic Laser Services Act was originally enacted in 2007 by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate. Although the bill was signed into law in that year, it was not implemented because it stipulated that the act would become effective only when it was funded by specific act of the legislature. The Board included the Act in its annual budget requests each year from 2008 to 2014. The budget signed by Governor Nathan Deal for fiscal year 2015 (which began July 1, 2014) included the necessary line item that authorized the Board to begin licensing cosmetic laser practitioners as Assistant Laser Practitioners and Senior Laser Practitioners. As of December 5, 2014, the Board had issued 88 licenses.
The application and checklist can be downloaded at www.medicalboard.georgia.gov/cosmetic-laser-practitioners-applications.

Jean Sumner MD appointed to Mercer faculty, page 9
Cosmetic Laser FAQs, page 10
PA news, page 11
Rules FAQs, page 14
Disciplinary actions, page 16
RCP news, page 20
Upcoming Board schedule, page 21

Pain Management Clinic License Update
After 17 months of licensing pain management clinics in Georgia, the Board has received 285 applications. Of that number, 263 were from clinics that were 100% physicianowned, and 22 were from clinics that were grandfathered because they had some non-physician ownership. The Board has approved 217 applications.
Of the remaining applications, 41 were either denied or withdrawn by the applicants, and 27 are pending. Approximately 90% of the clinics with 100% physician ownership were approved; in the case of the clinics with some nonphysician ownership, 50% were approved.
As of December 5, 2014, there were 196 pain management clinics with active licenses in the state.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 2

Telemedicine Rule Balances Health Care Access, Patient Safety
A Message from LaSharn Hughes, Executive Director

On February 2, 2014, the this is straightforward: The Board has authority to

Board adopted new tele- grant, revoke, or sanction the licenses of those who

medicine standards in Rule wish to practice medicine in the state, in order to pro-

360-3-.07, "Practice

tect Georgia patients. If the practitioner providing tele-

Through Electronic or

medicine services is not licensed by the Board, then it

Other Such Means." Among the standards mandated may be impossible to regulate the standard of care he

by the rule is a requirement that a Georgia licensee or she provides.

must have personally seen the patient prior to a telemedicine consultation, unless the physician or physician assistant is able to examine the patient using technology and peripherals that are equal or superior to an examination done personally by a provider within that provider's standard of care.

Patient safety is also the rationale behind the rule's requirement that the patient examination is done in person or using technology and peripherals equal or superior to an in-person care. The "equal or superior to" clause clearly states that the Board will hold the telemedicine consultation to meet the same standard of

That the rule allows examinations by telemedicine

care as one that is performed in the traditional in-office

would have been unimaginable just a decade ago, but setting. Likewise, requiring that the patient history is

technology has dramatically altered our business prac- available to the telemedicine provider, and requiring

tices and even daily activities over the past several

the him or her to maintain patient records document-

years, and fortunately, medicine is not immune from ing the evaluation and treatment given, signal the

such forces. Where the leading edge of telemedicine Board's expectation that telemedicine care must not fall

was once the nurse at the large health insurance plan below the standard of care that is delivered in the phy-

who provided basic nursing advice by telephone, today sician's office.

it is doctors consulting directly with patients via mobile video conversations. In fact, Dallas-based research firm

Restrictions on controlled substances for pain; other requirements

Parks Associates predicts that the number of such con-

sultations will triple over the coming year, from 5.7 Paragraph 8(c) of the rule explicitly states that the rule

million in 2014 to 16 million in 2015 - and will explode does not authorize the prescription of controlled sub-

to 130 million by 2018.

stances for the treatment of pain by electronic means;

thus, the rule cannot be used for the operation of a

This explosion of technology in doctor/patient en-

virtual pain clinic. The rule also states, in 8(d), that

counters comes with some considerable risk to patient telemedicine practitioner is responsible for ordering

safety. As Dr. Jean Sumner, the Board's medical direc- appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic tests that

tor, observed, "A lot of companies say they are practic- may be necessary to make diagnoses within the mini-

ing telemedicine, but there needs to be standards in mum standard of care.

place. Georgia has always been one of the leaders in

telemedicine, but we want to make sure that as

I am proud to say that since the 2004

healthcare delivery evolves, and technology evolves,

creation of the Georgia Rural Health

Georgians are protected." With this end in mind, the

Initiative, the Board has been a national

Board passed a telemedicine rule to protect patients

leader in the area of telemedicine issues.

while allowing practitioners and patients to benefit

With the current rule's requirements,

from the fruits of technological innovation.

the Board shows that it is possible to

Why require full licensure?

strike an appropriate balance between expanding health care access through

The rule requires that all treatment be done by practi-

technology and protecting patients who

tioners who hold Georgia licenses. The rationale for

are being treated with that technology.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 3

Board Elects David Retterbush, MD as New Chair, Alice House, MD as New Vice-Chair

On June 5, 2014, the Georgia Medical Board (GCMB) elected David Retterbush, MD of Valdosta as Chairperson of the Board. Originally appointed to the Board by Governor Sonny Perdue in November 2009, Dr. Retterbush, a board-certified general surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, has served as Vice-Chairman of the Board, as a member of the Wellness Committee, and has chaired the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee and the Perfusion Advisory Committee. He has also served as chief of staff and as chief of general surgery at South Georgia Medical Center. Licensed in Georgia since 1978, Dr. Retterbush has been in private practice for over 25 years, practicing as a broad-based general surgeon in Valdosta.

The Board also elected Alice House, MD of Warner Robins as ViceChairperson of the Board. Originally appointed to the Board by Governor Perdue in January 2010, Dr. House, a board-certified family practice physician, has served on the faculty of Mercer University School of Medicine since 2002. Before being named to her current position as dean of Mercer's Columbus Campus in May 2014, Dr. House held the positions of clerkship director, professionalism program director, director of student advising, and senior associate dean for student affairs. Licensed in Georgia since 1997, Dr. House was in private practice in Byron until joining the Mercer University faculty.

Members of the Medical Board

Board Committees

David W. Retterbush, MD Jane Camille "Cami" McGarity Each member of the Board is assigned to various

Valdosta

Gainesville

committees to participate in the decision-making functions

Chairperson

Consumer

of the Board. The committees include:

Alice A. House, MD Warner Robins Vice-Chairperson

B.K. Mohan, MD Riverdale

1. Investigative (4 Board members) examines initial complaints, results of all investigations, and medical malpractice reports.
2. Physician Licensing (4 Board members) evaluates

John S. Antalis, MD Dalton

George E. "Trey" Powell III, MD Hahira

each applicant's fitness to practice by establishing and applying standards for licensure and practice; reviews all non-routine applications; sets policies for staff on

Keisha Callins, MD

William Sightler, DO

how to handle non-routine applications.

Albany

McRae

3. Wellness (5 Board members) reviews all cases in

which a practitioner's practice might be affected by a

E. Daniel DeLoach, MD Ronald "Ronnie" Wallace, MBA behavioral, cognitive, physical, or substance use issue;

Savannah

Rome

meets with the practitioner and his or her advocates

Consumer

and treatment providers to assess the individual

situation and ability to return to practice; recommends

Charmaine Faucher, PA-C Richard L. Weil, MD

restrictions or sanctions as warranted.

Kennesaw Ex-Officio

Atlanta Immediate Past Chairperson

4. Rules (all Board members) develops rules to govern the performance of practitioners regulated by the

Alexander S. Gross, MD Dunwoody Past Chairperson

Charles L. White, DO Cleveland Past Chairperson

Board; assists the Board in defining, assessing, and assuring the continued competency of all licensees throughout their careers.

5. Advisory Committees (each with at least 2 Board

Jeffrey S. Grossman, MD Atlanta

members, plus practitioners from the professional community) for each profession regulated.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 4

Board Publishes Medical Malpractice Coverage Data Online

On Monday, October 6, 2014, the Georgia Medical Board released a full list of medical malpractice insurance coverage for all physicians with active Georgia medical licenses. The data on the list is compiled from renewal application responses, and includes the most current response from the physician. Consumers and interested parties can download the list and search for the physician by name or license number to see if the physician indicated he or she had coverage at the time the license was last renewed.

House Bill 147, passed and signed in 2011, required physicians to disclose on their physician profiles whether or not they were carrying medical malpractice insurance. After consultations with its licensing system vendor and the Georgia Technology Authority, the Board discovered that modifying the physician profile would cost more than $200,000. This amount exceeded the Board's ability to fund the required enhancement to the online physician profile. In an effort to provide the information to the public, the Board added the question to the physician renewal application, and began collecting the data on September 30, 2011. Since physicians renew their licenses biennially, the data set was not complete until February 2014.

LaSharn Hughes, executive director of the Board, noted that the deci-

sion to publish the list as a separate file on the Board's public website

Malpractice Coverage Facts

was the best choice available, in light of the budgetary constraints.

Since September 2011, the physician renew-

"While the Board couldn't meet the letter of the law as it was written al form has included the following mandato-

(including the information in the physician profile), we feel we have ry question: "11b. Do you currently carry

found a way to meet the spirit of the law," she said. "We would rather medical malpractice insurance, or are you

incorporate the information into the physician profile, but until we covered under a medical malpractice insur-

can get the funding to accomplish that, the list we posted online pro- ance policy? (Yes or No)"

vides Georgia citizens with more complete information to make deci-

sions about health care choices."

Of the 33,785 physicians with active licenses

currently, the Board has collected malprac-

The file posted on the Medical Board's website includes all active phy- tice coverage responses from 30,209

sicians who have submitted a renewal application. Because these re- (89.4%).

sponses are obtained from the renewal application, the published list

has the following limitations:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported

that over 2,500 physicians (8.5%) responded

(1) Physicians who have not submitted a renewal application since that they had no malpractice coverage. It is

September 30, 2011 are not included on the list.

notable, however, that of the physicians

(2) The response included in the list is the one that the physician pro- with no coverage, 67.7% were age 56 or

vided on the most recent renewal application, and may therefore older at the time they responded, sug-

be outdated today.

gesting that the vast majority of practicing

(3) Because responses are provided by the renewing physician, it is

physicians have malpractice coverage (36.2% of all reporting physicians were age

possible that some physicians who are covered by an employer 56 or older).

such as a hospital may have incorrectly answered "no".

Would you like to receive emailed notifications of the Board's Rules hearings and other important information? Send an email message to medbd@dch.ga.gov to join the Board's email notification list. Just let us know the email address you want us to include. You can unsubscribe at any time.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 5

Licensing and Nurse Protocol Reviews
The regulation of the practice of medicine and other professions by the state of Georgia is undertaken for one purpose to protect Georgians by ensuring that those who practice a particular profession have the education, training, and skill to practice safely. The Board also reviews a physician assistant's (PA) job description, which lists the duties a supervising physician may delegate to the PA, to help ensure that the physician/PA team has the requisite training to practice with reasonable skill and safety, and reviews physicians' protocols with advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).
In Fiscal Year 2014, the Board issued 3,812 new licenses, an increase of 5 percent over FY 2013. The Board also reviewed 1,059 applications to add or change supervising physicians (an increase of 4% over FY 2013) and 1,711 ARPN protocols (an increase of 47% over FY 2013).

New licenses issued, July 2013 through June 2014

APRN protocol and PA supervising changes reviewed , Fiscal Years
2012--2014

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 6

Enforcement and Discipline
Another way the Board regulates the professions it licenses is through sanctions taken against licensees who fail to comply with the Medical Practice Act and the Board's rules. Patients, family members, fellow practitioners, hospitals, other licensing boards and regulating entities, and law enforcement agencies can file complaints against individual licensees or against individuals who may be practicing without a license. The Board carefully considers each complaint to determine if sanctions against the licensee are warranted. In addition to these complaints, the Board investigates each case in which a malpractice insurer paid any sum on behalf of a Georgia licensee, in order to determine whether the licensee is able to practice medicine safely. As it investigates the allegations, the Board may subpoena patient records, interview the subject of the complaint, interview the complainant and/or other individuals with knowledge of the issues, and have the patient records peer-reviewed. These activities are all taken in the pursuit of patient safety.
In Fiscal Year 2014, the Board received 1,771 complaints and issued 71 public sanctions against 46 licensees (some public consent orders may have included more than one sanction). During the year, 183 letters of concern were issued, 26 complaints were closed with a non-public board action, 39 were withdrawn by the complainants, and 1,474 were closed with no action after the Board completed a thorough investigation and found no actionable offense.

Public sanctions issued in FY 2014, by
type

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 7

Expenditures and Revenue Collections
The Board operates with a budget appropriated by the General Assembly and certain administrative fees. The services the Board provides to the people of Georgia are delivered in an efficient, cost-effective way.
In FY 2014, the Board's total budget was $2,449,847. The investigations & enforcement activity accounted for 50.3% of total expenditures, the health care licensing activity share was 27.3%, and customer service & IT activity accounted for 14.7% of total expenditures.
The Board collected $6,619,605 in fees, representing a net return on investment of 170.2% for the people of Georgia.

Cost by activity, FY 2014
Total: $2,449,847

Revenue by source, FY 2014
Total: $6,619,605

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 8

Governor Appoints Three New Members
Reappoints six to new terms

Keisha Callins, MD was appointed August 29, 2014 to succeed William Butler, MD. Dr. Callins practices obstetrics and gynecology at Albany Primary Health Care. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Dougherty County, Albany Downtown Sertoma, the Junior League of Albany, the Georgia State Medical Association, the Griffin-Jordan Medical Society. Dr. Callins is a junior fellow of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Jeffrey S. Grossman, MD was appointed May 23, 2014 to succeed Gilbert Chandler III, MD. Dr. Grossman is the founding partner of Peachtree Spine Physicians in Atlanta. Dr. Grossman is a board member of the Georgia Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Ronald J. "Ronnie" Wallace, MBA was appointed March 28, 2014 to succeed Kathleen Kinlaw, M.Div. Mr. Wallace is an executive vice president with Heritage First Bank in Rome. He previously served on the Rome City Commission and as mayor of Rome. Mr. Wallace currently serves on the Rome Floyd Planning Commission, the Boys and Girls Club Board, and the Berry College Campbell School of Business Board.
John S. Antalis, MD was reappointed to a second term on the Board. Dr. Antalis has been a practicing physician at Dalton Family Practice for 28 years. He is past president of the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Antalis serves on the MAG Foundation, the MAG Mutual Board, the MAG Board, and the Patient

Safety Institute Board.
Alexander S. Gross, MD was reappointed to a third term on the Board. Originally appointed to fill an unexpired term in March 2008, Dr. Gross is medical director of the Georgia Dermatology Center in Cumming, president of the Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery.
Alice House, MD was reappointed to a second term on the Board. She was first appointed to the Board in January 2010, and is the current vice-chairperson of the Board. Dr. House is profiled on page 2.
B. K. Mohan, MD was reappointed to a second term on the Board. Dr. Mohan, who was originally appointed to fill an unexpired term in February 2013, is the founding partner of Southern Heart Specialists in Jonesboro. He has served on the Clayton County Health Education Board and as chairman of the Indian Professional Association.
David W. Retterbush, MD was reappointed to a second term on the Board. He was first appointed to the Board in November 2009, and is the current chairman of the Board. Dr. Retterbush is profiled on page 2.
William S. Sightler, DO was reappointed to a second term on the Board. Originally appointed December 2010, Dr. Sightler is medical director at Riverbend Correctional Facility in Milledgeville. He is past president of the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association, and serves on the GOMA Board.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

The Georgia prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) began accepting applications for registration in May 2013. Prescribers and pharmacists have access to query the data.

entity who receives electronic such information or related reports from providing the information or reports to any other person or entity except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant.

Queries are available for viewing only by the user who To register for the PDMP, go to http://www.hidinc.com/ submitted the query request. If you print the query, protect gapdmp and click the Practitioner / Pharmacist link on the patient confidentiality by filing or destroying the document left hand side. Practitioners and pharmacists must perform after it has been reviewed. The law regarding electronic the steps outlined in the Training Guide link to request an
database prescription information prohibits any person or account.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 9

Dr. Jean Sumner Appointed Associate Dean for Rural Health at Mercer
- Resigns as Board's Medical Director effective December 31

On November 12, 2014, the Mercer University School of Medicine announced the appointment of Jean Rawlings Sumner, MD to the newly-created position of associate dean for rural health effective November 1, 2014. Dr. Sumner, who was appointed to three terms on the Georgia Composite Medical Board, has served as the Board's medical director since 2011. As the Board's president from July 2008 to July 2009, Dr. Sumner was instrumental in rewriting the Georgia Medical Practice Act.
Dr. Sumner began her career as a registered nurse, earning her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing. She returned to school in 1982, this time as member of the first physician class of Mercer University's School of Medicine. In 1986, she received that year's Distinguished Graduate Award, and was also recognized by her peers with the annual Physician's Physician Award. After completing a three-year residency training program in internal medicine at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Dr. Sumner opened her practice in Wrightsville in 1990, becoming the only physician serving the rural two-county area.
With this her formative experience as a physician, Dr. Sumner became deeply involved in rural health issues. She worked diligently to attract new health care providers to the Washington County-Johnson County area, winning a federal grant to open a primary care center staffed partly with MCG faculty and students

and offering multiple visits each month by an orthopedist, a general surgeon, and an obstetrician. Her efforts resulted in her receiving the James Alley Service Award from the Georgia Rural Health Association in 1995; two years later, she was selected for Leadership Georgia for her strong support for quality rural health care across the state.
In addition to serving as a member, president, and medical director of the Georgia Composite Medical Board, Dr. Sumner has also served on the boards of the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the State Medical Education Board, and the Georgia Department of Community Health. In February 2014, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth, a non-profit corporation working for the establishment of telemedicine programs to promote improvements in healthcare in rural and underserved communities, and in March, she was named the Georgia TeleHealth Champion of the Year.
With her appointment to the Mercer associate dean's position, Dr. Sumner will leave the Composite Medical Board's medical director position effective December 31, 2014. LaSharn Hughes, the Board's executive director, observed, "I know that I speak for the Board members and the staff when I say that while we are so very proud of Dr. Sumner's accomplishments and her new appointment, we will miss her dedication and leadership here. It is tempting to say that we can never replace her, but in reality, the results of Jean Sumner's legacy and contributions to the Board over her many years of service will continue to help keep Georgia's patients safe, its health care community strong, and the Board equipped to face new challenges for many more years to come."

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 10

Frequently Asked Questions about Cosmetic Laser Licensure
Q: How do I know if I need a laser license?
A: If you provide non-ablative cosmetic laser services using laser hair removal devices, intense pulsed light (IPL) devices, or non-ablative light-based devices, you need a laser license, unless (1) you have an active Georgia physician license; (2) you have an active Georgia physician assistant license with Board-approved additional duties that include the performance of cosmetic laser services AND you are not supervising an individual who needs a laser license; or (3) you have an active Georgia advanced practice registered nurse license with a protocol that includes the performance of cosmetic laser services AND you are not supervising an individual who needs a laser license.
Q: I'm a PA or an APRN. Do I need a separate laser license to perform cosmetic laser services?
A: Yes, if you supervise someone who is required to have a license as an Assistant Laser Practitioner.
Q: What are the differences between the two levels of licensure?
A: An Assistant Laser Practitioner can only treat patients under the onsite supervision of a physician or Senior Laser Practitioner (Exception: an Assistant Laser Practitioner is permitted to perform laser hair removal and IPL procedures when the physician is not onsite). A Senior Laser Practitioner can supervise an Assistant Laser Practitioner, and can treat patients when the physician is not onsite.
Q: What are the qualifications for the Assistant Laser Practitioner license? A: 1. A current Georgia license as a PA, RN, APRN, master cosmetologist, or esthetician; or a previous
license as physician, PA, RN, or APRN.
2. Certificates from three laser courses that were taught by a physician or a certified continuing medical education (CME) or continuing education (CE) educator.
Q: What are the qualifications for the Senior Laser Practitioner license? A: 1. At least three years of licensure as a PA, RN, APRN, or physician.
2. At least three years of clinical and/or technological medical experience.
3. Certificates from two laser courses that were taught by a physician or a certified continuing medical education (CME) or continuing education (CE) educator.
Q: I have been providing cosmetic laser services since before the law became effective, but I don't meet the qualifications for licensure. How can I continue to provide cosmetic laser services?
A: If you can document at least 2,000 hours of laser experience obtained before March 1, 2014, and you have at least two certificates from laser courses that were taught by a physician or a certified CME or CE educator, you may qualify for the Assistant Laser Practitioner license under the grandfather clause. You must apply no later than December 31, 2014.
Q: I have a laser license in another state. Is this valid in Georgia?
A: No. You must have a Georgia license to perform cosmetic laser services in this state.
Q: Are there any patients who do not need to be examined prior to laser treatment?
A: Patients receiving laser hair removal or intense pulsed light services only do not need to be examined prior to treatment. All other patients must be examined by a Georgia physician, PA, or APRN prior to treatment.
Note: The Medical Board cannot provide legal advice to you, so for specific issues, you should consult a qualified attorney.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

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New NCCPA Certification Maintenance Process Begins
2014 marks the beginning of the PA profession's transition to a 10-year certification maintenance process. PAs who pass PANCE, regain certification, or wrap up a six-year certification maintenance cycle in 2014 will be the first to begin the new 10-year process. This information is outlined in the following link: http:// www.nccpa.net/Upload/PDFs/CM%202014%20Flyer.pdf
The new 10-year process is divided into five two-year CME cycles, during which 100 credits of CME must be earned, with at least 50 of those credits being Category 1 (same as the current process). What's new? At least 20 of the 50 Category 1 credits must be earned through self-assessment CME (SA-CME) or performance improvement CME (PI-CME). "40 and 40 in 4" is the new slogan. A PA has flexibility in any given two-year cycle to earn PICME credits, SA-CME credits, or some of both. However, over the course of those first four cycles (spanning approximately eight years), the PA must earn both types of CME: at least 40 credits of PI-CME and at least 40 credits of self-assessment CME.
Physician assistants licensed to practice in Georgia are required to complete Board approved continuing medical education (CME) of not less than forty (40) hours biennially. This total must include at least ten (10) hours directly related to the specialty of the Board approved primary supervising physician and at least three (3) hours in practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the Physician Assistant has prescription order privileges. As long as the PA's NCCPA maintenance record meets these guidelines, no additional CME is required to be in compliance with the Board requirements. (Rule 360-5-.07)
Board Issues Clarification on Prescribing by PAs
A physician assistant prescription drug or device order form must include the name, address, and telephone number of the prescribing supervising or alternate supervising physician, the patient's name and address, the drug or device prescribed, the number of refills, and directions to the patient with regard to the taking and dosage of the drug. The pharmacist could reject any prescription containing less information than that described. For more information, see O.C.G.A. 43-34-10
Hydrocodone Combination Drugs Become Schedule II Effective October 2014
Effective October 6, the Drug Enforcement Administration rescheduled hydrocodone combination products from schedule III to schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. There are several hundred brand name and generic hydrocodone products marketed with the most frequently prescribed combination being hydrocodone and acetaminophen (e.g., Vicodin, Lortab). Currently marketed HCPs approved as cough suppressants include Hycodan, Mycodone, Tussionex, Pennkinetic, Tussigon, and several generics. Access to the complete rule can be viewed at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/22/2014-19922/schedules-of-controlledsubstances-rescheduling-of-hydrocodone-combination-products-from-schedule.
Georgia law states that a PA may not issue a written prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance. A PA is permitted to prepare a prescription for administration of a Schedule II controlled substance for the primary or alternate supervising physician's signature on the date that the prescription is issued to the patient. A PA may also issue a written or verbal order for a Schedule II controlled substance within a health care setting. The supervising or an alternate supervising physician must co-sign such orders in compliance with any provisions required by the location where the physician assistant is practicing.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 12

PA Licensure Without a Supervising Physician
Did you know that you could apply for licensure as a Physician Assistant in Georgia without having a primary supervising physician? While the majority of PAs who apply for a Georgia license do provide a physician utilization form and job description, Rule 360-5-.02 specifies that upon receipt of the licensure application, the application fee of $300, and all required documents, the Board shall provide notification of approval or disapproval of the physician assistant application for licensure. You must certify that you have received, read, and are familiar with the Medical Practice Act, Physician Assistant Act and Board rules and regulations by signing the statement on the application.
Note that licensure under these circumstances does not permit you to practice as a PA; rather, it simply means you are licensed in Georgia. To practice as a PA, you must have a Board-approved job description under a supervising physician. Therefore, if you were licensed without a supervising physician and subsequently find a PA position in Georgia, you will need to submit a complete application to add a supervising physician, along with a job description and the application fee of $75. Once the Board has the complete application, including the Utilization of Physician Assistant form and signed job description, the licensure unit can issue you a temporary permit to begin practicing in Georgia. This temporary permit allows you to practice until the next Board meeting, when your application is reviewed for Board approval.
To apply for licensure or for adding or changing a primary supervising physician, go to http:// medicalboard.georgia.gov/online-services. If you do not want to apply and pay the application fee online, you can download and print the applications at http://medicalboard.georgia.gov/physician-assistant-includinganesthesiologist-asst.
Pain Management Clinic License Requirements for PAs
If you are practicing as a Physician Assistant in a pain management clinic, in addition to Board approval of your supervising physician, and job description, you must also have your practice manager submit a $75 application fee along with the following form: http://medicalboard.georgia.gov/sites/medicalboard.georgia.gov/files/1118-% 20ADD_CHNG%20PRACTITIONERS%20Form.pdf
Prior to practicing, you must pass a criminal background check and further investigation, at the Board's discretion. A National Practitioner Data Bank and Health Integrity and Protection Data Bank Report and a copy of the current DEA card are required for all Physician Assistants practicing in a pain management clinic.
Board Policy on Additional Duties, Alternate Supervising Physician Signatures
The Board clarified that when a PA who has had prior Board approval for specific additional duties subsequently requests the same additional duties under a new primary supervising physician, the PA is not required to provide case logs to demonstrate competency. All other new requests for additional duties must be accompanied by case logs to demonstrate competency and should include at least 10 procedures within an appropriate timeframe. If the requested additional duties would require ACLS to manage possible complications, the PA should submit a current ACLS card along with the required case logs.
The Board adopted a policy to accept copies and facsimiles of alternate supervisor's signatures, but not to accept typed names in lieu of signatures, on Form E, Basic Job Description (Anesthesiologist Assistant), Form F, Basic Job Description (Physician Assistant, Primary Care), and Form AC1, Adding Alternate Physicians.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 13

Don't know your user ID or password? Follow these tips.

Your user ID is an email address.
Your GCMB user ID should be a valid email address. That's because if you ever forget your password and request a new one, the system will send you a new temporary password to your user ID (email address). So try to think of the email address you may have used the last time you accessed our online services.

Note for renewing licensees
After you've paid your renewal fee online, click the License Menu button at the top of the screen. If your expiration date has been updated, you're done. If your expiration date hasn't changed, click the Main Menu link and then click "Pending Application Status Inquiry" for instructions.

You can reset your password online.
If you know your user ID, you can probably reset your password yourself. Go to the login page, and instead of trying to log in, just click the link below the password field. Then, you'll be asked to type your user ID.

To log in now, click or scan this code with your smartphone or tablet:

Once you enter your user ID and click "Next," you'll be asked to provide the correct answer to the security question you set up.
After you provide the correct answer to the security question, the system will reset your password to a temporary password and email that to the email address you used as your user ID. The email message will contain a temporary password you can use to log in.
If you can't see your license number after you log in successfully, call the Board.
If you logged in successfully, but don't see your license number, you may have logged in as a new user, rather than trying to use your existing user ID and password. This means you created an account as a user who has never before been known to the Board. If you encounter this issue, or cannot log in or reset your password after trying to follow the preceding steps, call the Board at 404-463-8900 or 404-656-3913 for assistance in resetting your account.

Updating your contact information can save you time, and thousands of dollars in fees, income, and fines
Approximately 45 to 60 days before your license expires, the Board emails a courtesy reminder to the address you use as your licensee user ID. Each month, many of these notices are returned because the licensee's address has changed.
Almost 7 percent of lapsed licenses are subsequently reinstated. Renewing a physician license costs $230 for two years and typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Reinstating a physician license is a much more costly undertaking, both in time and money, with application fees ranging from $500 to $2,000 and often taking two months or more to complete. Add the cost of a fine and reprimand if the licensee practices medicine without a license, as well as lost income from being unable to practice until the license is finally reinstated, and the cost for inadvertently allowing a license to lapse could be $20,000 or more.
You can view and update your license online any time , and if you are not online, you can fax your update to 404656-9723. The few minutes you spend keeping the Board updated could save you thousands of dollars down the road.

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 14

Frequently Asked Questions about Rules and Laws
Every month, the Board reviews complaints against licensees that arise from a misunderstanding of the governing rules or laws, or a complete ignorance of them. Do you know the rules and laws that you must follow to ensure that your license is kept in good standing?
Q: Is the placement of micro-dermal implants considered the practice of medicine?
A: The Board considers any alteration of the skin to be a surgical procedure, and therefore the practice of medicine.
Q: What acts can a physician delegate to a medical assistant?
A: A physician may delegate the following tasks to a medical assistant: subcutaneous and intramuscular injections; obtaining vital signs; administering nebulizer treatments; removing sutures and changing dressings.
Q: Can I write a prescription for a 90-day supply of a Schedule II drug?
A: In Georgia, unlike in many other states, there are no limits on quantity.
Q: If I change my legal name, may I continue to practice under my "professional name" (old name)?
A: You must use your legal name on your Georgia license. If you are getting married or divorced, you should consider any implications on your "professional name" as you make your decision on a name change.
Q: At what point is it permissible for me to date a former patient?
A: You should be extremely careful in any situation that could be construed as a boundary violation. Remember that no matter how difficult it may be to maintain appropriate boundaries with a patient, it is always the professional's responsibility to maintain those boundaries. You should refer difficult or boundary-testing patients for competent help or counsel. This applies even to former patients, if you did not terminate the physician/patient relationship in writing.
Q: Can I contract with online coupon or "deal-finder" services to market my medical services?
A: You should be careful to make sure you are not in violation of O.C.G.A. 43-34-8 (a)(9). The law specifically forbids you from dividing fees or agreeing to divide fees received for professional services with any person, firm, association, corporation, or other entity for bringing or referring a patient. As the AMA says in AMA Opinion 6.02, payment by or to a physician solely for the referral of a patient is fee-splitting, and is unethical.
Q: Do I have to send my APRN protocol to the Board for review?
A: If your protocol with the APRN does not include the authority for the APRN to write and sign prescriptions or order tests and/or medical devices, you do not need to send the protocol to the Board. The Board is required by OCGA 43-34-25 to review APRN protocols that include prescriptive authority. However, the APRN would still need to enter into an agreement with a physician to comply with OCGA 43-34-23, and a copy of that agreement must remain onsite at each practice location where the APRN is practicing under that agreement.
The Medical Board cannot provide legal advice to you, so for specific issues, you should consult a qualified attorney.

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PAGE 15

Credentialing Agents Can Use Board Licensee Search as Primary Source Verification
Among the many enhancements the Board has made to its services and website is a letter certifying its licensee search page as primary source verification. This letter was made available with credentialing offices and agents in mind. Instead of having to fax or mail questionnaires to the Board to document that information from the Board's licensee search page still meets primary source standards for JCAHO and other accrediting bodies, credentialing users can now download the certification directly from the website on demand.
The downloadable letter was created in response to suggestions made by credentialing staff to the Board's executive director at a meeting of the Georgia Association Medical Staff Services (GAMSS). The Board is always looking for ways to improve its services to the people and professional communities of Georgia, and welcomes any suggestions and feedback from its constituents.
Working on license verifications now? Click this letter to download a current copy for your file.

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PAGE 16

Board Disciplinary Action Report
The following report lists public disciplinary actions taken by the Board between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. These cases have been investigated and are now part of the public record. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, you should read the order in its entirety. The Board may include several provisions in an order, and the description of the discipline in this report may not reflect all the actions in the order. You may view these public orders on our website at www.medicalboard.georgia.gov.

Revocations, Voluntary Surrenders, and Suspensions

Name Adams, Mark Alan Atlanta Pain Rehabilitation Bacon, William Louis Battista, David Mark Dodds, Nedra Regina Eppelbaum, Lawrence Edward Gibson, Michael Anthony Sr Horton, William Jeffrey Innovative Pain Management Center Johnson, Nathaniel III Marlow, Lea Momah, Dennis Somto Moseley, John Leihugh Orr, Sean Christopher Phillips, James Milton Shuman, Robert Daniel III Tan, Mike Yap Taylor, Donald Ray Taylor, John Nicholas York, James A Yost, Robert Brian

Prof Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Resp Care Prof Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician

Lic 48133 222 9760 68107 39170 38830 57975 2226 110 32336 63370 36578 30153 63510 58999 68465 17494 31842 49211 49371 39701

Order Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Suspension Voluntary Surrender Suspension Suspension Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Voluntary Surrender Suspension Voluntary Surrender Summary Suspension Voluntary Surrender Suspension Revocation Voluntary Surrender Suspension

Date 3/20/14 9/22/14 1/2/14 3/14/14 2/28/14 6/18/14 4/4/14 10/30/14 9/18/14 7/18/14 4/17/14 9/26/13 2/6/14 3/6/14 7/17/13 8/22/14 10/31/14 1/9/14 11/7/13 3/26/14 9/11/14

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

PAGE 17

Public Reprimands and Probation

Name Ahmadi, Shalyn Benae Almedom, Stifanos Tesfu Anderson, Wallace Steve Attaway, Dean Scott Byers, Kenneth Wayne Columbus Pain Center Comprehensive Pain Care Croom, Christopher Scott Daugherty, Steve Dennis Davidson, David Alan Desantis, James Michael Dopson, Kelley Sue Bethel El-Attar, Mohamad Ali Adnan Fouch, Scott Ashley Fugedy, James Emery Georgia Pain Physicians - Ringgold Gibson, Michael Anthony Sr Gordon, Julian Benjamin Hemingway, Allison Winn Kumar, Kush Levine, Keith Andrew Levy-Eliceiri, Carlos Alberto Lyons, Charles Bradley Macon Medical Center Mahaffey, Lucinda S H Mahon, Melvyn Vanroy Markes, Alvina C Nelson, Robert Lee Ononuju, Chidozie Joshua Osinuga, Oladayo Adisa Rao, Hothur V Sanjeeva Securo, Anthony T Smith, Ethel Louise Specialty Clinics Spine Intervention - B Taylor, Donald Ray Thomas, Soren Shia Victor, Jules III Walker, David Morris Washington, Clarence Joseph Weber, Warren McClure Williams, Norris

Prof Physician Asst Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Asst Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Asst Physician Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Asst

Lic 3389 3619 28708 21634 20969 302 303 29433 28259 43916 30595 25144 41286 3334 32502 275 57975 51763 3089 57093 22583 19967 37603 268 2523 27864 2735 22951 63695 51703 18723 51736 31510 291 31842 26895 18122 29964 24879 26677 1844

Order Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Probation Public Practice Restriction Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation Probation Public Reprimand Probation Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Public Reprimand Probation

Date 5/6/14 9/22/14 5/1/14 11/7/13 6/19/14 9/25/14 10/7/14 5/1/14 3/6/14 9/11/14 10/10/13 2/6/14 11/13/13 7/23/13 7/11/13 6/18/14 4/4/14 9/13/13 4/17/14 5/1/14 5/1/14 7/11/13 5/1/14 4/4/14 9/13/13 4/4/14 10/10/13 12/9/13 7/11/13 7/17/13 3/6/14 10/10/13 5/1/14 9/11/14 4/4/14 10/9/14 10/9/14 9/13/13 8/9/13 7/10/14 6/14/14

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

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Public Fines

Name Ahmadi, Shalyn Benae Anderson, Wallace Steve Attaway, Dean Scott Byers, Kenneth Wayne Columbus Pain Center Comprehensive Pain Care Daugherty, Steve Dennis Davidson, David Alan Dopson, Kelley Sue Bethel El-Attar, Mohamad Ali Adnan Georgia Pain Physicians - Ringgold Gibson, Michael Anthony Sr Hemingway, Allison Winn Kumar, Kush Levine, Keith Andrew Lyons, Charles Bradley Macon Medical Center Mahaffey, Lucinda S H Markes, Alvina C Nelson, Robert Lee Ononuju, Chidozie Joshua Orr, Sean Christopher Osinuga, Oladayo Adisa Rao, Hothur V Sanjeeva Smith, Ethel Louise Specialty Clinics Spine Intervention - B Victor, Jules III Washington, Clarence Joseph Weber, Warren Mcclure Williams, Reginald Antonio

Prof Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Asst Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Pain Mgt Clinic Physician Physician Physician Physician

Lic 3389 28708 21634 20969 302 303 28259 43916 25144 41286 275 57975 3089 57093 22583 37603 268 2523 2735 22951 63695 63510 51703 18723 31510 291 18122 24879 26677 55788

Fine $1,000.00 $8,000.00 $20,000.00 $1,000.00 $10,000.00 $10,000.00 $5,000.00 $2,000.00 $1,000.00 $10,000.00 $10,000.00 $500.00 $1,000.00 $10,000.00 $10,000.00 $25,000.00 $10,000.00 $1,500.00 $500.00 $4,000.00 $500.00 $500.00 $3,000.00 $3,500.00 $15,000.00 $500.00 $5,000.00 $1,000.00 $5,000.00 $500.00

Amendments to Consent Orders

Name Harding, Susan Mildred Horton, William Jeffrey Junco, Anthony Jr Knight, Vincent Karl Knight, Vincent Karl Reed, Jeffrey Scott Smart, John K Ward, Jacob Tucker

Prof Physician Resp Care Prof Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician

Lic 31013 2226 38821 54912 54912 58580 65615 32075

Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order Amendment to Order

Date 5/6/14 5/1/14 11/7/13 6/19/14 9/25/14 10/7/14 3/6/14 9/11/14 2/6/14 11/13/13 6/18/14 4/4/14 4/17/14 5/1/14 5/1/14 5/1/14 4/4/14 9/13/13 10/10/13 12/9/13 7/11/13 3/6/14 7/17/13 3/6/14 5/1/14 9/11/14 10/9/14 8/9/13 7/10/14 7/11/13
Date 7/10/14 9/13/13 3/6/14 8/9/13 9/11/14 9/7/13 1/9/14 5/20/14

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Terminations of Public Orders

Name Beirne, Mark Jospeh Board, Elizabeth Maude Chao, Thomas Jorge Chapkowski, Sandra Lee Crusor, Julie Michele Doherty, Dennis Christopher Edwards, Hannibal Ellis, Daryl Arthur Filmore, Gerald L Fouch, Scott Ashley Fouch, Scott Ashley Gordon, Julian Benjamin Hall, Hugh Wood Heldzinger, Derek Hightower, Richard R Jr Hollis, Dan Stephen Junco, Anthony Jr Kapasi, Amarish R Kelly, James Corbitt Kuitems, Frank David Lentz, Randy Scott Lubin, Barry Howard Marler, Kevin Dwain Md Mitchell, Stephen Wyatt Ojewole, Abiola Olutayo Paterson, Spencer Michael Prior, Steven Thomas Reed, Jeffrey Scott Sanchez-Gonzalez, Armando Sanders, Lisa Marie Scott, Yvonne Miller Straub, Robert Jordan Sutlive, William Greene III

Prof Physician Physician Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Asst Physician Asst Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician Physician

Lic 68846 42184 3497 46745 60820 31731 52552 38747 50288 3334 3334 51763 40088 65259 39367 18498 38821 54759 17841 27213 50500 38659 55782 29495 61991 33669 59495 58580 27712 37189 29945 53183 23235

Order Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Suspension Lifted Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Terms Lifted Probation Terminated Suspension Lifted Terms Lifted Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Terms Lifted Probation Terminated Probation Terminated

Date 11/13/13 4/4/14 7/11/13 6/6/14 6/6/14 9/11/14 2/6/14 7/10/14 1/9/14 7/23/13 8/7/14 7/10/14 8/7/14 9/12/13 2/6/14 4/4/14 6/6/14 6/6/14 9/13/13 3/6/14 7/11/13 1/9/14 9/13/13 5/1/14 9/17/13 7/10/14 7/11/13 9/22/14 2/6/14 8/9/13 10/21/13 7/10/14 7/10/14

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

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Terminations of Public Orders (continued from page 14)

Profession
Physician Physician Resp Care Prof Physician Physician Physician

Lic #
55436 31334
2099 63747 40283 39984

Name
Sipsy, Lonnie Keith Stuart, Lloyd S Tucker, Christopher Wang, Yihan Wilson, Brummitte Dale Wright, Terrill Mark

Date
4/4/2013 12/7/2012 6/6/2013 7/19/2012 5/4/2013 7/12/2012

Discipline
Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Probation Terminated Terms Terminated Probation Terminated Probation

Respiratory Care Professional News
NBRC and CoARC Eliminate Special Certificate of Completion
The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) recently took actions relating to the Special Certificate of Completion (Policy 13). CoARC has rescinded Policy 13 and the NBRC Board voted to eliminate the Special Certificate of Completion as a route to the Therapist Multiple Choice Examination. The recent changes by CoARC and NBRC will affect the eligibility of some respiratory therapy students attempting the new Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Examination.
Board Revises Education Verification Form
As of January 1, 2015, the Georgia Medical Board's Form A (Education Verification Form) for initial licensure will be changed. The option "Bachelor's Degree with Associate Equivalency Degree" will be removed from the application. This change will align Georgia with other states that offer licensure to respiratory therapists.

Board Issues Call for Advisory Committee Nominations
The Orthotics & Prosthetics Advisory Committee has vacancies for Orthotist and Prosthetist members. Qualified candidates must be licensed in good standing to practice orthotics and/or prosthetics in Georgia, and must provide the Committee with a resume and three reference letters. The Committee typically meets once a month. Please forward your nomination and candidate materials to Katonya Reynolds at kreynolds@dch.ga.gov.
The Perfusion Advisory Committee has vacancies for Clinical Perfusionist members. Qualified candidates must be licensed to practice clinical perfusion in Georgia, and must provide the Committee with a resume and three reference letters. The Committee typically meets once a month. Please forward your nomination and candidate materials to lhughes@dch.ga.gov.
APRN Protocol Reviews
The Board is required by O.C.G.A. 43-34-25 to review APRN protocols that include prescriptive authority. If your protocol with an APRN does not delegate your authority to write and sign prescriptions, order tests, and/or order medical devices, you are not required to send the protocol the Board. In that case, however, you and the APRN must still enter into an agreement to comply with O.C.G.A. 43-34-23, and you must keep a copy of that agreement onsite at each practice location where the APRN practices pursuant to the agreement.
Protocols that include prescriptive authority must be submitted to the Board before being submitted to the DEA. The DEA will not issue a license to an APRN until the Board has approved the protocol.

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Upcoming State Calendar of Upcoming Board Meetings Holidays

January 8, 2015 February 5, 2015 March 5, 2015 April 2, 2015 May 7, 2015 May 8, 2015 June 4, 2015 July 9, 2015 August 6, 2015 September 3, 2015 October 1, 2015 November 5, 2015 November 6, 2015 December 3, 2015

2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303

The Board office will be closed in observance of the following holidays.

2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Georgia Regents University Augusta, Georgia Specific location to be determined
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Mercer University Macon, Georgia Specific location to be determined

2015
Thursday, January 1 New Year's Day
Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
Monday, April 27 Confederate Memorial Day
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
Friday, July 3 Independence Day
Monday, September 7 Labor Day
Monday, October 12 Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27 Robert E. Lee's Birthday (observed)

2 Peachtree St, NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Thursday, December 24 Washington's Birthday (observed)

Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

VOLUME 2015, NO. 1

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Contact Information for GCMB Services

Licensure Applications
Carol Dorsey, Licensure Unit Manager 404-651-7854; cdorsey@dch.ga.gov
Physician Johnita Daniel (last names A-G) 404-463-6162; jdaniel1@dch.ga.gov Candis Dickerson (last names H-O) 404-657-6491; cdickerson@dch.ga.gov Deborah Bruce (last names P-Z) 404-656-7067; dbruce@dch.ga.gov
Physician Assistant, Clinical Perfusionist
Kahlilah Bell 404-657-6495; kbell2@dch.ga.gov
Respiratory Care Professional, Orthotist & Prosthetist
Katonya Reynolds 404-463-2292; kreynolds@dch.ga.gov
Acupuncturist, Residency Training Permit
Carol Dorsey 404-651-7854; cdorsey@dch.ga.gov
APRN Protocol Review Kia Hargrove 404-463-5038; khargrove@dch.ga.gov
Perfusionist, Cosmetic Laser Services Practitioner
Kia Hargrove 404-463-5038; khargrove@dch.ga.gov
Ordering License Cards and Certificates, Ordering a Database of Licensees
Deionna Harris 404-656-3913; dharris6@dch.ga.gov

Enforcement, Compliance, and Other Services
Director of Enforcement Jennifer Bass, MS 404-807-0811; jbass@dch.ga.gov
Director of Investigations Emmalie Kirkland, CMBI 404-463-0635; ekirkland@dch.ga.gov
Filing Complaints, Malpractice Reports, and Other Enforcement Reports
Shonda Roberts, Unit Supervisor 404-657-6489; sroberts@dch.ga.gov
Sharon Cloud 404-657-6494; scloud@dch.ga.gov
Jeanette Carter 404-463-8903; jecarter@dch.ga.gov
Obtaining Certified Copies of Public Orders Sharon Cloud 404-657-6494; scloud@dch.ga.gov
Consent Order Compliance Issues, Open Records Requests
Betsy Cohen, Esq. 404-657-3194; bcohen@dch.ga.gov
Ordering Verification of Georgia Licensure Physician: www.veridoc.org All other GCMB professions:
Jeanette Carter 404-657-1725; jecarter@dch.ga.gov
Customer Service Issues
Robert Jeffery, Director of Operations 404-657-6492; rjeffery@dch.ga.gov

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Georgia Composite Medical Board

2 Peachtree Street NW 36th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Phone: 404-656-3913 Fax: 404-656-9723 email: medbd@dch.ga.gov
The Georgia Medical Board is online! Go to
www.medicalboard.georgia.gov

Active Licenses on December 5, 2014:

Physician Administrative Physician Institutional Physician Volunteer in Medicine Provisional Physician Residency Training Permit Physician Assistant Respiratory Care Professional Acupuncturist Auricular Detoxification Specialist Clinical Perfusionist Orthotist Prosthetist Orthotist & Prosthetist (dual) Pain Management Clinic Assistant Laser Practitioner

33,846 13 3 11 1
1,987 4,151 5,153
236 1
153 74 52
107 196
72

Total, all license types

46,072

Georgia Composite Medical Board Management Staff

LaSharn Hughes, MBA, Executive Director Robert Jeffery, MBA, Director of Operations Carol Dorsey, Licensure Unit Manager Diane Atkinson, Board Secretary Phyllis White, Operations Analyst

Jean Rawlings Sumner, MD, Medical Director Jennifer Bass, MS, Director of Enforcement Emmalie Kirkland, CMBI, Director of Investigations Betsy Cohen, JD, Legal Services Officer Shonda Roberts, Enforcement Supervisor