Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday conceded that long-standing delays in disciplining errant health professionals were "absolutely unacceptable" and promised broad reforms to better protect patients from dentists, pharmacists, therapists and others accused of misconduct.
"The existing model protects licensees," said Brian Stiger, who was appointed by the governor Tuesday as director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees the state's licensing agencies. "The new model makes the protection of consumers paramount."
Among the proposed changes: adding more investigative and legal staff, appointing an official to audit the boards and seeking legislation that would allow quicker suspension of uncooperative or jailed professionals' licenses. Many of the reforms could be paid for through higher licensing fees charged to health professionals.
The announcement comes a month after The Times and the nonprofit news organization ProPublica reported that it takes more than three years, on average, to investigate and discipline registered nurses accused of wrongdoing, including patient abuse, neglect and drug thefts. One Riverside County nurse was accused of assaulting patients at three hospitals before the board took action.
Several other large states resolve complaints in less than a year.
The governor acted on the same day that the state, in response to a public records request from ProPublica, released data showing that it takes more than two years on average to resolve all types of complaints against health professionals. The delays have persisted throughout the governor's tenure.
"It is clear the current system is broken and the entire enforcement process across all of the boards must be reformed," said Schwarzenegger, who last month replaced the majority of the state Board of Registered Nursing and ordered a review of the state's other health-related boards.
At a specially called meeting Wednesday of the newly revamped nursing body, Stiger proposed redesigning the enforcement system for all boards. He said the state hopes that the entire disciplinary process, from complaint to resolution, can be completed within 12 to 18 months.
Despite the dramatic gestures, Schwarzenegger's own actions may have contributed to problems at both the nursing board and 18 other "healing arts" regulators, which oversee more than 900,000 licensed professionals.
