RI Podiatrist Reprimanded for Failure to Document Patient Opioid Use

RI Podiatrist Reprimanded for Failure to Document Patient Opioid Use

A licensed podiatrist in the state has been issued a reprimand by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) - for violating state pain management regulations and state law. 

According to RIDOH, it received a complaint alleging that Stephen Rogers, who has been licensed in the state since 1995, “inappropriately prescribed controlled substances to certain [sic] of his patients.”

RIDOH said the Board of Examiners in Podiatry then “conducted an investigation that included a review of five patients…and an interview of respondent.”

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Based on its investigation, the board said if found that Patient A was prescribed opioids following podiatric surgery; Patient B was “prescribed zolpidem, a sedative/hypnotic, for insomnia…on more than one occasion, without maintaining a medical record;” Patient C was prescribed opioids after undergoing a podiatric procedure - a total of 180 tablets in 5 months; and Patient D was prescribed opioids as well as clonazepam “for anxiety associated with post-operative pain.”

Rogers also prescribed an opioid-containing cough suppressant to a staff member of his practice without maintaining a medical record, according to RIDOH.

 

State Findings 

After its review, RIDOH said it determined that the patients’ medical records did not include appropriate documentation of a treatment plan relative to the appropriate use of opioids in violation of state pain management regulations. 

“The Board determined that Patients A and C had been prescribed opioids for longer than 90 days, but that the medical records…lacked adequate documentation of the required written pain agreement relative to the opioids prescribed to each patient, as required…by the Pain Management Regulations,” stated RIDOH. 

“As a result of Respondent’s failure to fully comply with the requirements of the Pain Management Regulation, the Board found that Respondent violated RI General Laws 5-29-16(23),” said RIDOH, which added that the treatment for patients’ respiratory condition and insomnia was “beyond the scope of practice for a podiatrist,” also in violation of state law.

Rogers has been ordered to pay administrative fees of $1,110 and was required to complete and pass courses on controlled substances prescribing and maintaining boundaries for healthcare professionals, which RIDOH says he has completed.