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Military Medical Credentialing Actions

Military Medical Credentialing Action Attorneys

Top-Rated Military Defense Attorneys Representing Medical Providers in Matters of Military Credentialing Actions and Military Medical Abeyances.

Military Doctor Defense

At the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart, our military physician defense attorneys are committed to providing superior legal representation to service member medical providers / physicians across all branches of the military. We have the skills, experience, and legal knowledge needed to protect your licenses and your career.

If you are a military medical provider who is facing allegations of misconduct, an investigation, or other disciplinary action, you need to take immediate action to protect your rights. To consult with experienced counsel, please call us at 253-317-8494 or reach out to us directly online

Military Medical Providers: Understanding the Disciplinary Process

Allegations of Incompetence or Misconduct

All allegations of misconduct raised against medical professionals jeopardize a provider’s ability to practice medicine and to see patients, which also may impact civilian credentials and licensure. As a general matter, a preliminary review will be conducted—and unless the allegations are determined to be completely unsubstantiated or clearly baseless, government policy favors a full investigation. In nearly every action, the responsible commander disallows the practice of medicine until next steps can be assessed. 

The Department of Defense (DOD) Manual explains that adverse action can be taken against a military medical professional/medical provider if evidence reveals that incompetence, impairment, or misconduct resulted in harm or risk of harm to either patients or staff members. In most cases, the privileging authority in question will temporarily put a doctor who is subject to an investigation on non-clinical duties. This is known as an abeyance. Depending on the nature of the abeyance, it may be reported to your state licensing board, and ultimately may go to the Surgeon General.

Military Medical Abeyances

As defined by the Military Health System (MHS), a military medical abeyance is a:

“temporary assignment of 30 or fewer days of a provider from clinical duties to non-clinical duties while an internal or external peer review or QA investigation is conducted.” 

All but very few abeyances will not cause long lasting implications to one’s civilian license. Being disallowed from practicing medicine in the military bears several layers of process and it is vital to have an advocate well versed in assisting you in how to navigate the layers of bureaucracy. If you received an abeyance, your next call should be to an experienced military doctor defense lawyer.  The medical provider subject to an abeyance may have their privileges suspended after the initial 30 days have passed.

Do not wait to take action to protect your career. One of the biggest mistakes that military physicians, doctors, and other licensed providers make is waiting until they have already had a reportable action taken against their license. If you have been assigned to non-clinical duties or you have questions about your specific situation, please call our military medical abeyance attorneys for immediate assistance.

Military Medical De-Credentialing

Following an abeyance, a military medical provider may be subject to a Quality Assurance Investigation (QAI). These are serious matters that can, eventually, result in the suspension, reduction, or revocation of privileges. As part of this investigation, the medical professional under review will usually be asked to sit for an interview. 

Any and all statements made during this interview will become part of the official record—meaning they can be used against you in proceedings that may result in the suspension or revocation of your credentials. In far too many cases, doctors inadvertently make statements that are misinterpreted or taken out of context and otherwise used against them. For this reason, it is best to consult with a military medical suspension attorney before an interview. 

Once the QAI is complete, the findings will be referred to the credentialing board of the relevant Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Based on the information provided, the MTF board will make a recommendation to the commander—who must then make a decision on how to proceed. Depending on the circumstances, the commander may order:

  • Immediate reinstatement; 
  • Reinstatement with additional monitoring; 
  • Adverse action; or
  • The convening of a peer review panel. 

If a peer review panel is convened, then an additional investigation is likely. Indeed, more documents, records, and testimony can be obtained by the panel. After reviewing all relevant evidence, the peer review panel can make recommendations to a commander—potentially including suspension of privileges and outright de-credentialing. Often providers are told they are not entitled to review what the peer review panel saw or worse, that they may not submit matters for consideration to the peer review panel. Understanding what a provider may have and may submit is critical to best efforts to not have a reportable action against a provider’s license.

The Severe Consequences of An Adverse Action

If you are facing possible sanctions, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced military medical de-credentialing attorney right away. You can still save your license and save your military career. Remember, any adverse action will be reported directly to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).

How Our Military Doctor Defense Lawyers Can Help

Our law firm is made up of UCMJ specialists. With extensive military litigation and employment and military administrative process and hearing experience and a deep understanding of the regulations and policies, we are well-positioned to protect your rights, your career, and your license. Among other aspects of practice, our military medical credentialing attorneys and military medical abeyance attorneys will:  

  • Complete a comprehensive assessment of your case;
  • Answer questions, explain your rights, and outline your options; 
  • Carefully guide you through the  investigation—obtaining important evidence;
  • Request documentation and time to navigate all responses and actions; and
  • Undertake representation to limit any reportable actions against your license. 

You deserve fully personalized guidance from experienced UCMJ military attorneys. Our legal team will always put in the time, resources, and energy to best advocate for your interests. We are proud of our endorsements from former clients. If you have questions about your rights, contact our law firm today.

Call Our Military Medical Credentialing Attorneys for Immediate Assistance

At the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart, our top-rated UCMJ defense attorneys have the skills and training needed to effectively represent medical professionals. To schedule a consultation with an experienced military doctor defense attorney, please contact the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart at 888-463-8727. We represent medical professionals in the military throughout the United States and around the world.

 

Major Military Hospitals in the U.S.

San Antonio Military Medical Center

San Antonio, TX
360 staffed beds with 248 inpatients per day

Naval Medical Center

Portsmouth, VA
295 staffed beds with 160 inpatients per day

Naval Medical Center

San Diego, CA
272 staffed beds with 165 inpatients per day

Madigan Army Medical Center

Tacoma, WA
198 staffed beds with 123 inpatients per day

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Bethesda, MD
261 staffed beds with 188 inpatients per day

Tripler Army Medical Center

Honolulu, HI
194 staffed beds with 156 inpatients per day

Womack Army Medical Center

Fort Bragg, NC
110 staffed beds with 81 inpatients per day

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

Fort Hood, TX
91 staffed beds with 65 inpatients per day

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital

Fort Belvoir, VA
133 staffed beds with 68 inpatients per day

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

El Paso, TX
111 staffed beds 81 inpatients per day

Our Practice Areas

Being a former service member herself and working exclusively on military cases, Ms. Stewart has amassed experience to help in the following areas of the UCMJ:

What Our Clients Say

When faced with the decision of hiring a UCMJ specialist, Ms. Stewart’s former clients explain all that is necessary about her commitment to their case and her expertise in handling the toughest legal battles. Learn more about her unique abilities in the words of her clients, peers, and military judges.