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Some physicians find loophole in disciplinary databank

Quality Improvement Monitor, April 14, 2005

Nearly 1,000 physicians nationwide were disciplined in one state and then moved to another before being disciplined again during a five-year period, according to an April 12 Washington Post report.

Between 1999 and 2004, 972 physicians moved at least once after being disciplined in one state , the Post said. They were then disciplined in another state because of complaints or complication rates.

Ninteen physicians were disciplined in at least four states, according to the Post. Many are able to move around because nearly 54% of all hospitals have never reported disciplinary actions to the National Practitioner Data Bank, which tracks physician discipline records.

Some hospitals fail to report problems quickly, allowing physicians to move and receive a new medical license before any report is made, the paper reported.

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