Wiki fines for failure to address substance abuse

[Colliemom]

Hi
Some of my providers read this article:

http://c-hit.org/2018/03/20/med-board-fines-hamden-west-haven-doctors/

And they are wondering What is meant when the article states that the "board reprimanded and fined a West Haven doctor $1,000 for failing to address a patient’s weight loss and substance abuse in 2016." They are wondering what exactly he “failed to address” or document in his notes that led to this. In particular, "his failure to address substance abuse in 2016”.

How exactly do you address that in your providers' documentation? For patients with known active history of IV drug/heroin abuse, aside from documenting that the provider encouraged the patient to go to rehab, is there anything else that needs to be done to prevent being hit with a similar fine?

thanks!

 

[mitchellde]

This is a distressing article to be sure. However we have n idea the exact content of the documentation referred to in this article. Without knowing this it would be hard to make a call for your providers. I think as long as they acknowledge the substance abuse or mental disorder and acknowledge any conflict or lack of conflict with a current treatment being ordered it should be sufficient, however I would check with an experienced health care attorney for confirmation.