Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Enforcement Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board enforcement workload grows; staff report longer investigations and rising citations
Summary
Enforcement staff reported quarterly complaint and discipline metrics showing increased intake, investigation backlog and higher citation activity. Board members noted enforcement consumes a large portion of the board’s budget and discussed resource implications.
Enforcement staff reported quarterly complaint, investigation and discipline statistics to the California Physician Assistant Board on April 21, describing an active enforcement caseload and lengthening investigation times.
Complaint analyst Linda Serrano told the board that for the reporting period covering second and third quarters (Oct. 1, 2024–Mar. 31, 2025) staff logged 134 complaints in Q2 and 162 in Q3. Serrano also reported intake averages and that currently there were approximately 292 complaints assigned to the desk analyst and 72 pending at investigations. She said the average age of pending investigations is about 187 days and there are 19 investigations older than eight months.
Discipline analyst Christina LaForte presented enforcement outcomes: formal accusations filed increased modestly (five in Q2 and six in Q3), citation issuance rose from 10 in Q2 to 25 in Q3, and fines assessed and received were recorded (fines issued approximately $3,750 in Q2 and $7,000 in Q3; fines received figures were provided in the packet). LaForte corrected a table in the packet on resolved citations and said a larger number than shown had been closed in the reporting period.
Probation monitor Virginia Gerard summarized probation and diversion activity: for the period described a small number of licensees entered probation, a few successfully completed probation, and several were tolled or voluntarily surrendered. Gerard reported 33 active probationers (most recent period) with additional tolled files noted.
Board members asked whether enforcement represented more than half the board’s spending; budget staff confirmed enforcement activity is a major expenditure category and had driven recent augmentation requests. Enforcement staff and board members discussed aging investigations, communication with complainants, and the need to monitor enforcement workload and outcomes.
No new enforcement policy was adopted at the meeting; staff will continue monitoring workload and provide updates as part of ongoing reporting.
