Appointed by Governor: Michelle Andoll; Patricia M. C. Brown, Esq.; Marc K. Cohen; Suzanne S. Fox; Adele Hammerman; Ricardo C. Kimbers, D.D.S.; M. Natalie McSherry; Christian C. Mester; Richard M. Robinson.
Appointed by Senate President: Joan Carter Conway
Appointed by House Speaker: Shirley Nathan-Pulliam
Appointed by Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene: Hari P. Close II; Robert G. Hennessy, M.D.; Patricia A. Noble, R.N.; F. Aileen Taylor.
Ex officio: Richard Bardos, designee of Attorney General; Paula C. Hollinger, designee of Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene; Wayne A. Brooks, designee of Chief Administrative Law Judge.
Staff: Anne M. H. Hubbard
c/o Office of Governmental Affairs, Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene
201 West Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201 - 2399
(410) 767-6481
e-mail: ahhubbard@dhmh.state.md.us
web: www.dhmh.state.md.us/hcpip/index.html
The Task Force on the Discipline of Health Care Professionals and Improved Patient Care formed in July 2008 (Chapters 211 & 212, Acts of 2008). The Task Force made recommendations concerning those practices and procedures which support the fundamental goals and objectives of the disciplinary programs of the State's health occupation boards. Further, it recommended possible changes to the organizational structure of the boards and their relationship to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and ways to more speedily and fairly resolve allegations of substandard, illegal or unethical actions by health care professionals. To formulate such regulations, the Task Force studied the current disciplinary systems of the health occupations boards. The study noted whether patients were adequately protected; how burdensome the system was for licensees; how much mentors were used and the associated costs; and whether licensees were provided with due process. How to modify the current system to better protect patients, ensure due process to licensees; prevent incompetent and unethical behavior by licensees; and generally support the professional growth and development of health care licensees in the State were considered.
On January 30, 2009, the Task Force submitted its report to the Governor, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, and the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Authorization for the Task Force continues through June 30, 2009.
© Copyright February 17, 2009 Maryland State Archives