Three Rhode Island Doctors Sanctioned This Week
GoLocalProv News Team
Three Rhode Island Doctors Sanctioned This Week
The filings come on the heels of a reprimand for a nursing assistant who RIDOH said fell asleep on the job - constituting “unprofessional conduct” under Rhode Island General Laws.
The following physician reprimands were filed this week.
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Malpractice Settlement and Finding of Unprofessional Conduct
RIDOH issued a reprimand to Todd Handel, MD — after he settled a malpractice claim.
According to RIDOH, “On or about January 4, 2023, a Complaint was filed against [Handel] in connection with notice received by the Board of a settlement payment made on behalf of [Handel] regarding a malpractice claim. The claim related to an epidural steroid injection that was administered by Respondent on November 30, 2020, resulting in a spinal cord infarction.”
“The Board reviewed the medical record and determined that there was documentation in the operative summary that, upon arrival in the recovery room after the procedure, the patient had "weakness in both legs" and "no sensation below the waist." There was no documentation concerning the patient offered and/or declining to be transported to an emergency room at an earlier time. The medical references only one set of vital signs taken of the patient and no neurological exam was performed during the 6-hour observation period ollowing the procedure,” said RIDOH.
“The Investigative Committee concluded that the diagnosis of spinal cord infarction should have been apparent when the patient reported an immediate loss of sensation below the waist and an increased level of weakness in the legs; the patient should have been transported to an emergency room much sooner for evaluation, RIDOH continued. “The Investigative Committee found that the delay in transferring the patient to an emergency room, and the lack of contemporaneous documentation of the patient's vital signs during recovery, formed the basis for its probable cause determination of unprofessional conduct, in violation of R.I. Gen. Laws.”
In addition to the reprimand by the Board, Handel will be required to pay administrative fees in the amount of $1,100 and a fine in the amount of $1,000.
“Unprofessional and Disruptive” in Massachusetts
RIDOH issued a reprimand to Christian Heinis, MD — after action was taken against him in Massachusetts.
“On March 14, 2024, the Board of Registration in Medicine for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (‘Massachusetts Board’) entered a Consent Order finding that [Heinis] had behaved in an unprofessional and disruptive manner with a number of patients and had also failed to adequately document the treatment records for patients,” wrote RIDOH. “The Massachusetts Board suspended [Heinis’] license indefinitely but immediately stayed its sanction with the entry of a five-year probation agreement between Respondent and the Massachusetts Board.
“The Investigative Committee of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline met on July 31, 2024, to consider the actions taken against [Heinis] by the Massachusetts Board. The Investigative Committee made a reciprocal finding of unprofessional conduct against [Heinis] pursuant to R.I. Gen. Law…which states, in pertinent part, that any ‘disciplinary action against a license or
authorization to practice medicine in another state’ constitutes unprofessional conduct,” RIDOH continued.
Drip Bar and IV Violations in Virginia
According to RIDOH Joseph M. Palumbo, DO has been licensed to practice medicine in the State of Rhode Island since September 28, 2022.
“On or about December 5, 2023, the Board received notice of a November 15, 2023 Consent Order by the Virginia Board of Medicine. The Virginia Board of Medicine found that [Palumbo] violated Virginia Code,” wrote RIDOH.
The Virginia filing found that Palumbo, “As the medical director of certain intravenous vitamin infusion facilities, specifically the Drip Bar RVA, located in Richmond, Virginia; the Prime IV Hydration and Wellness/Hydrate 757, located in Norfolk, Virginia; and Precious Pure IV Hydration, located in Hampton, Virginia; and as the owner of a 'locum tenens' agency that employed physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide medical services to these facilities, he aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine when he allowed unsupervised staff to perform discretionary duties requiring the exercise of medical professional judgment.”
He was assessed a penalty of $5,000 in Virginia; Rhode Island took action this week.
“The Investigative Committee of the Board met on February 28, 2024, and, upon review of the State of Virginia Board of Medicine Consent Order, found that [Palumbo] had violated R.I. Gen. Law…which states in pertinent part that any ‘disciplinary action against a licensed or authorization to practice medicine in another state constitutes unprofessional conduct,’” according to RIDOH in its filing on November 13.