State medical boards are responsible for investigating complaints and disciplining physicians to protect patient safety. However, recent high-profile cases have raised concerns about how long it can take for boards to take action, even when serious allegations emerge.
Alex Keoskey explains in a recent article with MDLinx that every state requires reporting of physicians who have been disciplined or whose conduct may pose a threat to patient safety. Such reports may be submitted to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), a confidential federal system designed to prevent patterns of misconduct from going undetected.
“This ensures that doctors with a pattern of misconduct or malpractice do not slip under the radar.”
Keoskey emphasized that healthcare professionals must feel empowered to report concerns in good faith. Hospital employers should provide clear protections to ensure those who raise patient safety issues are not subject to retaliation.
As scrutiny of medical board processes continues, healthcare organizations should review their internal reporting and compliance protocols to ensure they meet state and federal requirements.
Read the full article with MDLinx.
