Disciplinary Actions, Complaints, and Mandatory Reporting
Disciplinary Actions, Complaints, and Mandatory Reporting
This domain tests the Board’s discipline process and the licensee’s reporting duties.
Core rules
- Grounds for discipline include unlicensed practice, fraud in licensure, practicing beyond scope, incompetence, negligence, patient abuse, impairment, false billing, confidentiality breaches, and failure to cooperate with an investigation.
- Complaints typically go to the Board or Division. The Board may investigate, offer a consent agreement, or hold a hearing. Sanctions include reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, and civil fines.
- A licensee must report child abuse or neglect as required by Missouri law. Health care providers also have elder-abuse reporting duties. Reports to the Board are separate from employer reports.
- Do not retaliate against a patient or employee who reports in good faith.
- Cooperate with lawful investigations. Destruction of records after a complaint is a serious aggravating factor.
Worked example
A PT suspects a colleague is treating patients while intoxicated. The PT documents specific observations and reports to the employer and the Board as required. Reasoning: patient safety is immediate, and the report should be factual, not speculative. The PT should not investigate alone or promise confidentiality that cannot be kept.
Traps
“I reported it to my supervisor” may not satisfy a statutory reporting duty. Do not wait for proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Do not post about the complaint.