Update: Malpractice reporting rule clears key hurdle
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Malpractice reporting rules developed by the NC Medical Board won unanimous approval in August from a state commission that oversees changes to North Carolina administrative code.
The rules call for all NC physicians and physician assistants to report to the Board malpractice judgments, awards, payments and settlements greater than $25,000 that occurred on or after October 1, 2007. That is the effective date of a new state law that directs the Board to gather certain information about malpractice and make it available to the public.
Implementation of the rules is on hold until the General Assembly has the opportunity to review them. The earliest they could take effect is March 2009. No malpractice data will be published until the rules are in effect.
Disclosing malpractice history is just one part of the Board’s plans to broaden online practitioner profiles currently available to the public at www.ncmedboard.org In accordance with state law, the profiles also will be expanded to say whether hospital privileges have ever been suspended, limited or revoked. Other new items of interest include disciplinary actions taken by out-of-state medical boards or other regulatory bodies, as well as certain criminal convictions. In addition, the expanded profiles also will now give licensees the option to list positive information, such as honors and awards, languages spoken, volunteer work in an indigent clinic and clinical faculty appointments.
Licensees will self-report applicable information to the NCMB. The Board will notify physicians and PAs in writing when it is time to provide profile information and provide detailed instructions on how to comply with this new requirement.
The rules call for all NC physicians and physician assistants to report to the Board malpractice judgments, awards, payments and settlements greater than $25,000 that occurred on or after October 1, 2007. That is the effective date of a new state law that directs the Board to gather certain information about malpractice and make it available to the public.
Implementation of the rules is on hold until the General Assembly has the opportunity to review them. The earliest they could take effect is March 2009. No malpractice data will be published until the rules are in effect.
Disclosing malpractice history is just one part of the Board’s plans to broaden online practitioner profiles currently available to the public at www.ncmedboard.org In accordance with state law, the profiles also will be expanded to say whether hospital privileges have ever been suspended, limited or revoked. Other new items of interest include disciplinary actions taken by out-of-state medical boards or other regulatory bodies, as well as certain criminal convictions. In addition, the expanded profiles also will now give licensees the option to list positive information, such as honors and awards, languages spoken, volunteer work in an indigent clinic and clinical faculty appointments.
Licensees will self-report applicable information to the NCMB. The Board will notify physicians and PAs in writing when it is time to provide profile information and provide detailed instructions on how to comply with this new requirement.
