U-M physician assistant suspended a year after conviction for driving while visibly impaired
A physician assistant at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital was suspended in September, more than a year after he admitted to driving to work under the influence of opiate-based painkillers, University of Michigan officials confirmed.
In addition, Chad J. Pechumer's medical professional’s license has been suspended, according to court and state regulatory agency documents.
U-M officials would not discuss the nature of the suspension against Pechumer, who worked in a pediatric surgery unit, including how long it lasted or whether it was paid or unpaid. He was suspended on Sept. 23, said Kara Gavin, a spokeswoman for the University of Michigan Health System, who noted a conviction for an off-premises offense is not automatic grounds for suspension.
Pechumer could not be reached by AnnArbor.com.
He was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated just before 6 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2009, when he was pulled over by a U-M officer on West Medical Center Drive, according to court documents. A complaint filed by a Michigan Department of Community Health task force alleges Pechumer was on his way to work and was under the influence of fentanyl and oxycodone.
Pechumer pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving while visibly impaired on Aug. 17, 2009. He paid a $1,165 fine and was sentenced to 12 months of probation with conditions that included out-patient treatment and twice weekly 12-step meetings.
MDCH officials suspended Pechumer's license, but the case is still open and Pechumer can appeal the decision.
A complaint against Pechumer filed Sept. 28 by a state task force assigned to discipline licensees says he successfully completed outpatient treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, but failed to meet all the conditions of a monitoring agreement.
He failed to file reports and failed to report the misdemeanor conviction to the state, according to the complaint.
Gavin said in an e-mail to AnnArbor.com that physician assistants perform procedures and care for patients admitted to the hospital. They also conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventative health care, assist in surgery and prescribe medications.
Gavin said U-M has long recognized staff or faculty with drug problems can be rehabilitated.
“In order to assist those with drug problems, the university has established programs and encourages individuals to seek confidential evaluation and the opportunity for rehabilitation for any time of drug problem,” Gavin wrote in an e-mail.
It isn’t clear where Pechumer received the painkillers he is alleged to have taken.
Juliana Keeping is a health and environment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
lizw
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 : 8:06 a.m.
Prior to my retirement as an RN in the UofM's Neonatal ICU, it was my privilege to work with Chad Pechumer, as a member of the medical/surgical team caring for critically ill children. His skill, training and dedication to these children and their families played an essental role in the complex individual treatments each child required. Chad's career was interrupted by sudden illness, and a lengthy, complicated and painful post-operative hospitalization. I wish him well, and that he can have his health fully restored, and return to continue sharing his many talents and years of experience with future patients and coworkers who will benefit from having known him.