Fall 2008 Newsletter - Virginia Department of Health Professions

P a g e 2V i r g i n i aB o a r d o f F u n e r a l D i r e c t o r s a n d E m b a l m e r sD e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h P r o f e s s i o n sI m p o r t a n t C h a n g e s f o r t h ef u n e r a l i n t e r n s h i p p r o g r a mThere have been significantchanges to the FuneralService InternshipProgram. These changeshave been made in orderto improve the programand to promote applicationfor full licensure as aFuneral Service Provider(FSP). These new regulationsbecame effectiveMarch 21, 2007.The following is a briefoverview of the changesin the Funeral ServiceInternship Program.There were also somenoted changes in theFuneral Service InternshipProgram Supervisorsroles and qualifications.The Regulations forFuneral Service InternshipProgram requirethat the internship consistof at least 3,000hours of training to becompleted in no lessthan 12 months and nomore than 48 months.The regulations also requirea FSI to receivetraining in all areas offuneral service. All internsmust take and passthe National Examinationwithin five years of beginningtheir internship.The regulations specifythe qualifications of afuneral training site. Thetraining site must be at acurrently licensed funeralservice establishment orany branch and be approvedby the board priorto permitting funeraltraining being given orconducted in the establishment.The regulations are alsospecific on the supervisionrequirements.The training must beconducted under the directsupervision of alicensee or licenseeswho hold a full and unrestrictedVirginia funerallicense, have at least twoconsecutive years inpractice and are employedfull time in or undercontract with the establishmentwhere trainingoccurs. The supervisormust apply and beapproved by the boardprior to becoming a FuneralService Intern Supervisorand conductingthe training. Credit willonly be allowed for trainingunder direct supervision.The FSI registration willexpire on March 31 ofeach calendar year andmay be renewed by submissionof the renewalnotice and prescribedfee. No credit will beallowed for an internshipperiod served under anexpired registration.If the intern, supervisor,or establishment managerfails to submit the reportsas required in the regulations,the intern may forfeitall or partial credit fortraining or disciplinaryaction may be takenagainst the intern, supervisor,and establishmentmanager.To view the full text ofthese changes, pleaserefer to a copy of theregulations for furtherexplanation.V i r g i n i a ’ s N e w C h i e f M e d i c a l E x a m i n e r ,D r . L e a h B u s hPhoto courtesy of The Virginian-PilotDr. Leah Bush began serving as Virginia's ChiefMedical Examiner on January 1, 2008.Leah Bush, M.D. waspromoted to Chief MedicalExaminer for theCommonwealth of Virginia,last fall by GovernorTim Kaine . Dr. Bushbecame the new ChiefMedical Examiner onJanuary 1, 2008, replacingMarcella Fierro, MD,who retired after holdingthe position since 1994.Leah Bush served as theAssistant Chief MedicalExaminer in the Tidewaterdistrict of Virginiafor 18 years.Dr. Bush is certified bythe National Board ofMedical Examiners, andBoard Certified in ForensicPathology and ClinicalPathology. She receivedher B.S. in biologyfrom Virginia Tech, herM.S. in biology from VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity and her M.D.from the Medical Collegeof Virginia (MCV).She completed a pathologyresidency at MCVand a forensic pathologyfellowship at the MedicalExaminer’s Office in Richmond,Virginia. Bush hastaught forensic pathology atEastern Virginia MedicalSchool and Virginia CommonwealthUniversity.Dr. Bush also has servedas a consultant for the CBSTV Drama, CSI: CrimeScene Investigation.