New law has been created that places a requirement on practitioners who order tests for Lyme disease. As of July 1, 2013, “every licensee or his in-office designee who orders a laboratory test for the presence of Lyme disease shall provide to the patient or his legal representative” certain information.

Click on this link to view the full law and the language that must be provided to patients.

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Meningitis and Stroke Associated with Potentially Contaminated Product

For more information read the following

• Update March 4, 2013: Notice to Clinicians:  Continued Vigilance Urged for Fungal Infections among Patients Who Received Contaminated Steroid Injections
• 11/01/2012: Update on NECC Products: Samples of injectable betamethasone and cardioplegia solution test positive for bacterial contamination
• 10/31/2012: FDA reports voluntary recall of all Ameridose drug products; product list released
• 10/22/2012 - FDA Update on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak; NECC Customer List; Advice to NECC customers, patients, and healthcare professionals
• 10/07/2012 - UPDATE: Fungal Meningitis Associated With Potentially Contaminated Product
• 10/06/2012 - Notification by NECC
• 10/05/2012 - Letter from the Virginia State Health Commissioner
• 10/04/2012 - CDC Advisory

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Behavior Analysts and Assistant Behavior Analysts
Regulations requiring the licensure of these professions became effective September 19, 2012.  Applications may be submitted online on our Forms & Applications webpage.

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Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses
Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment. The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license. For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable licensing specialist for your profession.

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Public Health Information
Important Public Health Information from the Department of Health

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Address of record

Section 54.1-2400.02.B of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Health Professions (DHP) to collect an official address of record from each health professional to be used by DHP for agency purposes. The Code also requires DHP to provide an opportunity for a health professional to provide a second address for the purpose of public dissemination. If there is no second (public) address provided, the official address of record will be used as the public address for the purpose of public dissemination. If the health professional would prefer that his/her address of record remain confidential, then an alternative public address must be provided to DHP. (Note: the License Lookup feature on the DHP public website does not contain the full address. However, public addresses are available by contacting Virginia Interactive Premium Service or the Board.) An individual is not required to submit a place of residence for either the official address of record or the public address. A post office box or a practice location is acceptable.

Changes to either address may be made at the time of renewal or at any time by written notification to the Board. Changes to the address of record may also be made at any time by accessing your licensure information through the online system. Any change that is made to one of the addresses does not automatically update the other address. Address information should be kept current for the address of record and the public address (if different from the address of record) at all times.

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Geriatric Resources
The Joint Commission on Health Care has noted a significant shortage of geriatricians in Virginia. To obtain information specific to the treatment of elderly patients, please access these and other resources for practitioners who provide geriatric care:

www.VirginiaGeriatricsSociety.org - Information about meetings
www.VirginiaGeriatrics.org - Several interactive modules and other educational resources
http://www.americangeriatrics.org – Website for the American Geriatrics Society
www.Geriatricsatyourfingertips.org - Manual on geriatric care
www.Eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsandConcepts - end of life and palliative medicine
www.pogoe.org - The Portal of Geriatric Online Education (POGOe) is a free public repository of a growing collection of geriatric educational materials

McGuire VAMC Monthly Geriatric Grand Rounds - Coordinator is Angela.Gentili@va.gov

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Renew online
Licensees can renew a license, change an address and request a duplicate license online. Certain license types can now renew online.

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Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation - More information...
The Adult Protective Services Program at the Virginia Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new online educational opportunity for mandated reporters of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older or incapacitated individuals. This online training course has been developed for, and with the assistance of, mandated reporters and APS professionals to assist mandated reporters in understanding adult abuse and their responsibilities as mandated reporters. Read More...(word .doc)

Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program Information