Doctor disciplinary information has become extremely popular within the last 4 years. I remember when I started MDNationwide there was only 6 state medical boards that had websites and who offered disciplinary action information on doctors. Why? Well, to keep it short n sweet, state medical boards have to rewrite of the state's Medical Practice Act. The law governs how physicians are licensed and disciplined. Upon until now, medical boards are being pressured to do so.
I will put this in prospective. State medical boards are the one's who license and discipline doctors. Most doctors even the best have had minor and/or serious complaints against them, after all they are only human. However, the medical boards are the only one's who can sanction a doctor. Often times doctors have to receive numerous complaints for medical boards to even acknowledge the complaints. Once the investigation starts, it usually takes several months and in some cases years to suspend or terminate (if guilty) the doctors license. By then, the doctor has already seen 100's of patients which have no clue of the doctors history. No, it's not a perfect system, however there are many things the medical boards can do to speed the system.
Some medical boards are under scrutiny because of a few high-profile cases. I predict within the next 2-3 years 90%+ of state medical boards will offer doctor discplinary information online.
I will put this in prospective. State medical boards are the one's who license and discipline doctors. Most doctors even the best have had minor and/or serious complaints against them, after all they are only human. However, the medical boards are the only one's who can sanction a doctor. Often times doctors have to receive numerous complaints for medical boards to even acknowledge the complaints. Once the investigation starts, it usually takes several months and in some cases years to suspend or terminate (if guilty) the doctors license. By then, the doctor has already seen 100's of patients which have no clue of the doctors history. No, it's not a perfect system, however there are many things the medical boards can do to speed the system.
Some medical boards are under scrutiny because of a few high-profile cases. I predict within the next 2-3 years 90%+ of state medical boards will offer doctor discplinary information online.
