Helping to operate a nursing home is a complicated career. Professionals helping run nursing homes generally need to secure a specialized license from the Minnesota Board of Executives for Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS).
BELTSS oversees professional licensing. The organization helps ensure that those in administrative roles have appropriate education and experience. They also conduct background checks to prevent people who might abuse their authority from holding these safety-critical positions. Additionally, BELTSS also receives and investigates complaints.
BELTSS grants three unique licenses. Those include Health Services Executive (HSE), Assisted Living Director License (ALD) / Assisted Living Licensure In Residency (ALDIR) and Nursing Home Administrator. How can professionals who hold one of these critical licenses respond to issues that could affect their careers?
Licensed professionals are in high demand
There are currently 329 nursing homes just in Minnesota that are certified to take Medicaid benefits. Those homes offer a combined total of 23,413 active beds for older adults in need of around-the-clock care. Additionally, there are 2,222 assisted living facilities across the state.
Each of those facilities likely requires the support of multiple administrators. There is significant demand for the professional services of those who can help operate successful nursing homes. Unfortunately, professionals who have already secured licenses could be at risk of losing them and facing other professional setbacks if BELTSS decides to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
What may trigger disciplinary efforts?
There are multiple circumstances that may lead to BELTSS holding disciplinary hearings for licensed professionals. Those scenarios include situations where there are allegations of application fraud on the part of current license holders.
Additionally, criminal convictions reported by state authorities or that turn up during renewal procedures for licenses can result in disciplinary hearings. Complaints from members of the public could also lead to investigations that culminate in disciplinary efforts. BELTSS has the authority to impose a variety of career penalties, including stripping a previously licensed professional of their state license.
How do professionals defend themselves?
Those who have invested substantially in their careers typically do not want to lose their professional licenses. Thankfully, they may have several options for avoiding the worst-case scenario. Nursing home administrators can retain the services of defense attorneys to help them respond to pending criminal charges.
They can also partner with lawyers who are familiar with professional licensing defense if they have already pleaded guilty or face disciplinary actions related to complaints or allegations rather than criminal charges. The specific defense strategy utilized depends in no small part on the charges brought against the licensed professional.
With an appropriate strategy and the right support, nursing home administrators can protect their careers even when they face scrutiny from BELTSS. Connecting with appropriate support as early as possible when facing potential professional licensing consequences can help nursing home administrators protect their careers and the licenses that allow them to hold their current positions.