The Department’s pharmacy investigators may investigate the actions of any applicant or of any person or persons holding or claiming to hold a license. The Department shall, before suspending, revoking, placing on probationary status, or taking any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper with regard to any license, at least 30 days prior to the date set for the hearing, notify the accused in writing of any charges made and the time and place for a hearing of the charges before the Board, direct him or her to file his or her written answer thereto to the Board under oath within 20 days after the service on him or her of such notice and inform him or her that if he or she fails to file such answer default will be taken against him or her and his or her license or certificate may be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or have other disciplinary action, including limiting the scope, nature or extent of his or her practice, provided for herein. Such written notice may be served by personal delivery, email to the respondent’s email address of record, or mail to the respondent at his or her address of record. At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board shall proceed to hear the charges and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present such statements, testimony, evidence and argument as may be pertinent to the charges or to the defense thereto. Such hearing may be continued from time to time. In case the accused person, after receiving notice, fails to file an answer, his or her license may, in the discretion of the Secretary, having received first the recommendation of the Board, be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or the Secretary may take whatever disciplinary action as he or she may deem proper as provided herein, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of said person’s practice, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for such action under this Act.