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Douglas Vanden Berge

Key Service Areas

  • Licensing Defense of Nurses, Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, and other Medical or Mental Healthcare Providers

616.233.5127

Legal Assistant - Sara Bos

About Douglas

What types of clients do you serve?

With my colleagues at Rhoades McKee who work together as a mutually supportive team, I represent nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other medical and mental healthcare providers in a variety of different contexts, as discussed in the next section below.

In what ways do you serve and help your clients?

As an attorney with over 30 years of experience representing healthcare providers, I am dedicated to protecting and defending physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other medical and mental healthcare providers, and I strive to provide the highest quality of service in the following areas:

Licensing Defense – The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) can initiate investigations and file formal complaints against nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other medical and mental healthcare providers licensed in Michigan. I represent and vigorously defend healthcare providers statewide in licensing cases at all levels, including LARA investigations, administrative complaints, compliance conferences, and administrative hearings, and I have consistently obtained excellent results for my clients.

Health Professionals Recovery Program (HPRP) – HPRP is a program that is closely affiliated with LARA.  HPRP has been established as a non-disciplinary approach to support the recovery of professionals from substance abuse and mental health disorders. I have significant experience in representing healthcare providers in connection with HPRP, including helping them assess alternatives and obtain their best outcomes.

Credentialing – Sometimes healthcare providers will face complications with health insurance carriers as a result of an adverse outcome in a malpractice or licensing case. I have successfully represented healthcare providers in appealing and reversing notices of disaffiliation or terminations issued by health insurance carriers.

Applications for Reclassification or Reinstatement of a License – If a healthcare provider has had a limitation placed on their license, or if their license has been suspended, sometimes obtaining a removal of such limitation and/or a restoration of a full license will require the provider to file an application for reclassification or reinstatement of a license.  As an attorney with over 30 years of experience defending healthcare providers, I know what kind of supporting information and documentation LARA likes to see in such applications for reclassification or reinstatement of a license, and therefore am able to provide valuable insights and drafting assistance for providers who are preparing such applications.

Defending Staff Privileges – Physicians and other healthcare providers can face complaints against their staff privileges.  I defend healthcare providers against such complaints and help protect their staff privileges.

Education

Willamette University College of Law, J.D., 1988

Calvin College, B.A., 1982

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a lawyer?

A:

I enjoy being able to defend healthcare providers, whose work I respect and greatly appreciate, and to help them put legal problems behind them, so that they can focus more on their work and on enjoying their life.

Associations

Grand Rapids Bar Association, Member

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee, Grand Rapids Bar Association, Former Board Member

State Bar of Michigan, Member

Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan, Member

Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Member

Former Board Member, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC)

Former President of Grand Rapids Attorney Golf League

Former President of Deacons, LaGrave Christian Reformed Church

Former President of Board, Sunshine One Way House (Community Correctional Facility)

Center for Public Justice, Member

Bar Admission

Michigan Bar Association

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

 

certifications

Certified as Facilitative Mediator by Institute of Continuing Legal Education, June 2004

Awards and Recognition

Grand Rapids Magazine, Top Lawyer in Medical Malpractice Law

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