The ISU investigates complaints against health care practitioners and facilities/establishments which are regulated by the Florida Department of Health, and investigates complaints against individuals practicing without a health care license in the State of Florida. The Investigative Services Unit (ISU) functions as the investigative arm of the Florida Department of Health, a Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA).
The staff of the ISU includes professional investigators and senior pharmacists who do the following:
1. Collect documents and evidence.
2. Conduct interviews.
3. Serve subpoenas and official orders of the department.
4. Perform inspections of pharmacies and dispensing practitioners and enforce compliance of Florida’s Drug and Cosmetic Act.
5. Perform probationary monitoring for the Compliance Management Unit of the Consumer Services Unit (CSU).
Investigations
The CSU refers the complaints to the ISU field office nearest to where the incident occurred. The complaints that present an immediate threat to public safety are given top priority; however, all complaints are investigated as quickly as possible.
The investigative steps generally include the following:
1. Obtaining documentation, medical records, and evidence relating to the complaint.
2. Locating and interviewing the complainant, the patient, the subject and the witnesses.
3. And drafting and serving subpoenas for the necessary information.
The investigator then writes a report which is forwarded on to the department’s attorneys for legal review.
Inspections
Drug Agents and Pharmacy Inspectors conduct opening, annual, out-of-business, change of address, and change of ownership inspections.
Pharmacy Inspectors routinely inspect 13 different types of facilities licensed through the Florida Board of Pharmacy working as field agents within Investigative Services.
Drug Agents enforce compliance of Florida’s Drug and Cosmetic Act, Chapter 499, Florida Statutes. They routinely inspect facilities, products and merchandising involving drugs, devices and cosmetics and help protect the public from injury.
Soreide Law Group represents health care professionals brought in front of the Florida Board of Health, Florida Board of Pharmacy, and Florida Board of Nursing. To speak to a lawyer regarding these issues please call: (888) 760-6552, or visit our website at: www.floridaprofessionallicense.com.