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Oregon Health Licensing Agency's Licensing Line
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Article Content
October 8, 2007
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| Fostering an "Acute Sense of Urgency" to Protect the Public |
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How can the State of Oregon's many and varied professional licensing and regulatory boards act with an "...acute sense of urgency to protect the public"?
The Oregon Department of Administrative Services has begun looking into that important question, following a special meeting that Governor Ted Kulongoski's office held for all health related licensing boards on 9/24/07. Attendees discussed the key public safety issues that relate to board activities and management practices.
The Governor's Office has requested that all health related licensing boards provide information on the following:
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Number of licensees annually
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Number of complaints received annually
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Average time elapsed between receipt of complaints and resolution
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Number of disciplinary actions taken
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Whether there are clear disciplinary guidelines for determining sanctions
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What actions are taken on cases with suspected criminal behavior
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What options are used with providers who are impaired
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How impaired providers are monitored
The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) licenses and regulates 17 health and related professions and oversees nine boards and councils in a central agency administration that is unique in Oregon.
The OHLA central agency, which conducts approximately 10,000 inspections of cosmetology, body piercing and tattooing businesses annually and responds to hundreds of consumer complaints against licensed professionals in all OHLA-regulated professions, is representing the boards and councils it oversees in the current review process.
"This is less about one particular state board or agency and more an opportunity to review how state regulatory boards and a central agency such as OHLA can provide better public service to protect the public," says OHLA Director Susan K. Wilson. "We look forward to improving our own performance and public disclosure efforts as a result."
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| Fox 12 News Offers Public Safety Tips from "Safe Salons" |
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The bad news: Improperly cleaned and disinfected foot spas used for pedicures in licensed nail salons have been linked to skin infections across the country.
The good news: Such infections have been infrequent in Oregon. Consumers can find tips to keep their salon visits infection-free by accessing the resources of Safe Salons, a public education campaign OHLA launched with the Board of Cosmetology this summer.
Viewers of Fox 12 television news received a few of those tips -- such as not shaving your legs at least 24 hours before receiving a pedicure and what to look for inside a nail salon, such as properly cleaned and disinfected foot spa drain screens -- in a segment that aired on 8/25/07.
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| OHLA Holds Board of Cosmetology Meeting in Medford. . . |
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In an effort to reach out to different parts of the state, OHLA headed south to Medford to hold a regular meeting of the Board of Cosmetology and a special outreach event for body piercing technicians and tattoo artists on 9/17/07.
OHLA staff and Board of Cosmetology members also conducted an onsite visit of one of Oregon's more than 40 licensed cosmetology schools, the Oregon Institute of Cosmetology.
OHLA and the Board of Cosmetology collaborate with the Department of Education, Private Career Schools to ensure that the same state standards for health, safety and infection control required of businesses and practitioners are being followed by schools and students.
OHLA is responsible for establishing and enforcing proper infection controls for more than 5,000 businesses and 7,000 independent contractors statewide, the majority of which offer services in the four individual fields of cosmetology: barbering, esthetics, hair design and nail technology.
“We regulate practitioners in all parts of the state, but it’s not often that they can travel to Salem to meet with us face-to-face,” says OHLA Communications Officer Kraig Bohot. “This provides everyone with an opportunity to further develop a constructive dialogue on how the state conducts the business of public protection on a more personal level.”
OHLA staff and Board of Cosmetology members also visited Phat Kat, a local body piercing and tattooing business. As part of the outreach, OHLA conducted trial inspections to educate practitioners and students on regulatory issues and requirements meant to protect the health and safety of the public.
"A key aspect of enforcement is educating practitioners on how to avoid violations, particularly of health, safety and infection control requirements," Bohot adds. "I think the practitioners and students appreciated our message. We're always looking for opportunities to educate licensees about regulatory requirements and to answer their questions."
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| . . .And Provides Body Piercing and Tattooing Outreach |
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The Medford meeting, outreach event and school and facility reviews (see above) spurred lively discussion of regulatory issues ranging from the potential cancer risks of professional products to the finer details of the new mobile facility permit.
The mobile facility permit allows tattoo businesses to provide services in a mobile vehicle in different locations if all health, safety and infection control requirements are met and if the permit holder specifies the locations and times services are being provided.
About 25 students, practitioners and facility owners attended the two meetings. Another 30-plus students and staff were part of related visits to the Oregon Institute of Cosmetology and Phat Kat Tattoo.
OHLA held the meetings and outreach in response to practitioner and consumer feedback asking for more in-depth discussion and review of regulatory issues. The goal is to more effectively reach out to students, practitioners and the public around the state while discussing regulatory issues of importance.
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| Where to Find Licensing Line Back Issues |
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To access back issue of Licensing Line, visit www.oregon.gov/OHLA and click on the Licensing Line link under “News You Can Use.”
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| Licensing Line Reader Feedback |
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Your comments and suggestions about Licensing Line and the issues we cover are greatly appreciated! Let OHLA Communications Officer Kraig Bohot know what you think at kraig.bohot@state.or.us or call him at 503-373-1939.
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