Illinois Licensing: New law prevents denial of occupational licenses for certain criminal convictions

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a new law on August 22, 2016, opening the door to applicants for professional licenses who may have previously been rejected by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) for having certain past criminal convictions. The law only applies to a limited number of regulated professions in Illinois, […]

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PODCAST: The expanding role of nurses in the community with Elizabeth Carlson, PhD, RN

Today’s podcast interview with Doctor Elizabeth Carlson focuses on current trends and topics in the area of careers in nursing. In the next 30 minutes Doctor Carlson will talk to us about her career in nursing and healthcare and offer examples of opportunities in several nursing professions in demand today and in the years to […]

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Nursing professions regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

  The nationwide nursing shortage hit Illinois and the problem is there are not enough young nursing professionals to replace the number of retiring baby boomer nurses. In a recent survey, a third of the currently working nurses age 55 and older plan to retire within the next five years.[i] Research shows that even fewer […]

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Rock Island, Illinois home health supplier faces vendor fraud charges for submitting false billing invoices.

How you can stop home health fraud, Whistleblowers may share in recovery

Home health companies are increasingly popular among families who want their loved one to receive care in their own home or another residential location with others receiving care. Home health options are appealing to those who do not favor the traditional nursing home facilities and find them to seem institutional. One advantage of a traditional […]

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State agencies including the IDFPR work together to keep Illinois residents safe.

Healthcare Podcast Recap: Several recent healthcare professional and consultant interviews!

In case you missed them, below are several recent Internet radio podcast interviews featuring a variety of healthcare professionals with relationships and connections to the Chicago-based team of Illinois Licensing Professional Consultants. From first seeking a professional healthcare license, to managing exposure and liability in complex health systems, the individuals featured in this series, have […]

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Illinois physicians and healthcare professionals: Are you prepared in the event of an OIG audit or review?

Not only do healthcare providers need to be concerned with federal compliance with government funded benefit programs like Medicare, there are state compliance agencies who oversee and audit physicians and healthcare systems to make sure there are no shortcomings in the state-funded benefit systems. In Illinois, the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) operates as […]

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What can the innocent doctor do when audited for drug diversion?

At all ages, there are people who will abuse prescription narcotics one way or another. Some abuse narcotics, causing danger to themselves, and others sell or give them to others, contributing to danger and illegality. When someone goes to the doctor, presenting a condition requiring pain medication, for example, the doctor has no idea or […]

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What happens if I voluntarily surrender my medical or nursing license?

There are so many possible scenarios in which nurses and physicians may be subject to discipline by the state medical boards and licensing departments. What you decide to do in one state can impact what happens in another state if you hold multiple licenses. While some legal problems, such as convictions for fraud or injury […]

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Illinois physician agrees to surrender medical license after giving patients non-FDA approved drugs

Dr. Ann Kinnealey is no longer an Illinois-licensed medical doctor following investigations leading to an agreement with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Kinnealey may have been facing IDFPR discipline and elected to surrender her license voluntarily. She waived her right to a hearing with the Department investigating her in connection with […]

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Telemedicine improving treatment of autistic children, saving money, reducing anxiety

Parents with autistic children face significant challenges. Autistic children often function best with a routine and controlled schedule and environment. When there are significant disruptions to the autistic child’s day, such as an unexpected trip to a doctor, the result can include sudden behavioral problems and strong reactions. In medicine, a prevailing thought and assumption […]

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