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Chiropractic Examiners |
MINNESOTA BOARD CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS
June 1998 MBCE Newsletter A quarterly publication
STATISTICS OF MN LICENSED CHIROPRACTORS
As of March 10, 1998
Licenses: 1718 Active
202 Inactive
1920 Total
Registrations: 376 Acupuncture
76 Independent Examiners
261 Corporation
31 Preceptor
CALENDAR OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
APR 9 Board Meeting
MAY 25 MBCE office closed for
Memorial Day holiday
JUN 18 Public requests to make
presentation at July 16
board meeting due
PUBLIC INFORMATION
This is to remind you that licensure information maintained by the board is public. This includes, but is not limited to, your name, address and phone number. If you provide the MBCE with your home address or phone number, that will be part of the public information database. Additionally, if you list your office address with the MBCE, but move your residence, there is no need to notify the MBCE of a change of address (unless you wish your new residence to be the official address of record.)
DISCIPLINE
The MBCE took the following disciplinary action:
Chiropractor Date of Action
Anderson, Guy W. 02-02-98
DeHaven, Stephan 01-08-98
Preston, Teresa 01-08-98
Some have criticized the board newsletter for the limited information provided regarding disciplinary actions taken. The limited information provided is largely a result of advice from the Attorney General's office. However, the actions themselves are public information, and may be reviewed at the board office (at no cost) or purchased for a nominal cost from the board.
POOR COMMUNICATION:
A RECIPE FOR DISASTER
The MBCE has received complaints from patients who had third party reimbursement denied for procedures that were not entirely conventional. The MBCE strongly encourages doctors to remain conservative in their discussions with patients about the likelihood of third party reimbursement for any procedures (whether "traditional" or not.) When a doctor assures a patient that a particular procedure or device is likely to be reimbursed only to have reimbursement denied, then the doctor-patient relationship is damaged and the board is often the recipient of a complaint.
BOARD MEETING UPDATE
Action taken by the MBCE at its November 20, 1997 meeting included:
Approval of a board recusal policy
Authorization for the rules committee to pursue amendments to rules relative to the use of the terms "extern" and "intern"
Action taken at the February 19, 1998 meeting included:
Direction to staff to publicize disciplinary actions in local newspapers; this will not be a negotiable item during panel negotiations.
Direction to the test development committee to make detailed plans for a seminar all new licensees must attend
Election of board officers:
President: Rosemary Kassekert
Vice President: LeRoy Otto DC
Administrative Officer: Gary Pennebaker DC
Selection of Dr. Otto as delegate and Dr. Pennebaker as alternate to the annual FCLB and NBCE annual meetings.
WE NOTE THE LOSS OF . . .
Ralph DeJarlais DC
Dr. DeJarlais died in January at the age of 68. A graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic, Dr. DeJarlais was licensed in Minnesota for almost 40 years.
PLEASE THINK OF THE PROFESSION …
Recently, the MBCE has received a number of complaints regarding advertising. These ads are showing a disconcerting trend towards what may be described as "bad taste." The MBCE recognizes the competitive nature of trying to survive and run a practice in today's challenging health-care climate. However, ads of this nature do not promote the confidence of the public in the profession. The public's confidence in the qualifications, professionalism and integrity of their health care provider is a necessary ingredient for potential patients before selecting a specific doctor. However, the public confidence in the profession overall is required before a potential patient will even open a directory to the chiropractic section. Those few practitioners who engage in sensationalistic or otherwise distasteful advertising not only undermine their own likelihood of drawing patients, but undermine the great strides the profession has made to be viewed as a highly regarded profession. The MBCE would invite all those who advertise to consider such advertisement not only from the perspective of whether it is legal, but from the perspective of whether it is dignified and inspires confidence and respect for the profession.
NEW LICENSEES
The MBCE licensed the following individuals:
As of November 1, 1997
Caulder, James M.
As of December 1, 1997
Hetzler, Rebecca L.
As of February 1, 1998
Alexander, Michele J. Meeker, Todd A.
Ausmus, Regina M. Moreau, William J.
Berntson, Todd M. Nelson, Joseph V.
Bockelmann, Darrin L. Novak, Jeffrey J.
Burns, Jacqueline S. Pietsch, David M.
Butteris, Kerri L. Ray, Shanon R.
Caspers, Guy M. Reed, Robert D.
Condon, Kraig J. Reiser, Sara C.
Erickson, Joel G. Ross, Jason R.
Fagerness, Jon D. Sayler, Brian J.
Holmberg, Gregory L. Schlavin, Thomas F.
Johnson, Jason C. Shipper, Robyn L.
Johnson, Stacy M. Snowdon, Roy H.
Ketchmark, Chris A. Timmerman, David L.
Krause, Kevin C. Tormondsen, Monica S.
Ley, Tammy K. Venables, Brent D.
Lutz, Daniel S. Weinhold, Pamela L.
Maki, Paul M. Wessels, Eric J.
Martorana, Julia A. Whelan Sr., Timothy J.
Mattes Steven J. Williams, Richard P.
As of March 1, 1998
Chang, Tia Pickhardt, Sarah M.
Gustafson, Robert J. Putzier, Shelly A.
Hardesty, Kevin G. Quinlan, Tamara J.
McDonald, David D. Smigelski, Robert J.
Muths, Eric D.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
Some doctors have been upset when they didn't receive credit for continuing education courses which they attended. The information the MBCE maintains is only as good as the information it receives. In order for the MBCE to properly credit participation, the MBCE must receive a report that identifies you in a manner consistent with our records. Please be aware of how your name is listed with the MBCE. Then register with the CE sponsor, and sign your attendance sheets accordingly. For example, if you register and sign with your middle name when your license uses your proper first name, the MBCE may not match you accordingly. In addition, use of the qualifier's "Jr." and "Sr." are important if this is reflected in the MBCE records. If you are unsure of how the MBCE has you listed, merely check your annual renewal certificate which should be posted on your wall.
In addition, the MBCE has received a number of requests to approve continuing education courses which weren't pre-approved. The MBCE does not grant requests for retroactive approval of continuing education courses regardless of whether or not the course may have been approvable in the first place. If you have questions about the status of courses, then contact the sponsor or the MBCE before attending the program.
FYI …
During the 1997 legislative session a new law was written which pertains to all health-care providers in Minnesota. It states:
Any health care provider who is licensed, credentialed or registered by a health related licensing board as defined under section 214.01, subdivision 2, must wear a name tag that indicates by words, letters, abbreviation, or insignia the profession or occupation of the individual. The name tag must be worn whenever the health-care provider is rendering health services to a patient, unless wearing the name tag would create a safety or health risk to the patient. The failure to wear a name tag is not reportable under chapter 214.
The MBCE was not involved in this legislation and can't provide any additional information. Please contact your own private legal counsel for interpretation.
ALERT
The MBCE has become increasingly concerned about the number of sexual misconduct complaints it has received and acted on in the last year. Whether this is a result of an increase in this behavior, or simply an increase in the reporting of a behavior that has been going on for many years is unclear. (Most experts suggest that the latter is more likely.) However, the reporting of such behavior can have profound and even devastating effects with regard to a doctor's license.
The board has concluded five cases since June of 1996 which have included allegations of sexual misconduct. The results of these five cases are: one license revocation, 3 license suspensions for two years, and one license suspension for 18 months. (The license suspensions have typically included, upon reinstatement, a five-year probation with stringent conditions.)
The MBCE strongly encourages practitioners to consider the consequences before they consider engaging in the behavior. The MBCE understands that at times doctors and patients become attracted to each other. Nevertheless, a doctor does not have the latitude to exploit this attraction. The MBCE encourages doctors experiencing such attractions to seek professional help directed towards engaging in preemptive behaviors that will protect the patients and themselves.
NEW NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE
For various administrative reasons, the MBCE has elected to modify the schedule of the Newsletter. While previously published in January, April, July and October, the new schedule will be March, June, September and December. (Note: While this one may have reached you a little late, we anticipate being back on schedule for the September newsletter.)
MEMBERS, MBCE
Name Term Expires
Colvard DC, John Jan 2002
Esch DC, Charles Jan 2001
Ibura DC, Akiba Jan 2000
Kassekert, Rosemary Jan 2001
Otto DC, LeRoy Jan 1999
Patalonis, Joan Jan 1999
Pennebaker DC, Gary Jan 2000
MEMBERS, PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Name Term Expires
Angove DC, Douglas Sep 1997
Butler DC, David Mar 1998
Dale, Candace Oct 1997
Hagan DC, Thomas May 1998
Olson DC, David C. Feb 1997
IN THIS ISSUE OF THE MBCE NEWSLETTER
Alert Page 3
Board Meeting Update Page 2
Calendar of Significant Events Page 1
Continuing Education Credit Page 3
Discipline Page 1
FYI … Page 3
Members, MBCE Page 4
Members, Peer Review Committee Page 4
New Licensees Page 2
New Newsletter Schedule Page 3
Please Think of the Profession Page 2
Poor Communication: A Recipe for
Disaster Page 1
Public Information Page 1
Statistics of MN Licensed Chiropractors Page 1
We Note the Loss of … Page 2
This document will be made available, upon request,
in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille or audio tape.
The Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners (MBCE) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners 2829 University Ave SE, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55414-3220 (612) 617-2222 or Fax (612) 617-2224 MN Relay Service for Hearing or Speech Impaired: 1-800-627-3529 Bulk Rate U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 171 St. Paul, MN