Few licensing boards conduct criminal background checks

The Federation of State Medical Boards says increased access to state and national data banks could help states develop screening systems.

By Jay Greene, amednews staff. Nov. 5, 2001.

Since the flaws in the nation's physician credentialing procedures were exposed during the murder investigation that led to the conviction of medical school graduate Michael Swango, medical licensing boards have looked for ways to strengthen the system

The major obstacle boards face is convincing law enforcement agencies to allow them access to state and national criminal data banks, licensing officials say. But that reluctance may be changing.

After Sept. 11, the White House created the Office of Homeland Security to encourage law enforcement agencies to share information. The Federation of State Medical Boards hopes this climate of greater cooperation will make it easier to access crime dat

"What we need is a commitment from federal law enforcement agencies to share this information," said Andrew Watry, executive director of the North Carolina Medical Board. "It shouldn't be so hard to get."

Since 1998, when FSMB recommended that boards conduct criminal background checks on physicians applying for licenses or permits, officials have been working to help them gain access to crime data.

"Part of the problem is obtaining access to FBI data banks," said Dale Austin, FSMB's interim executive director. "We are finding that state law enforcement agencies are more apt to work with boards if there is appropriate language in state statutes th

Only six state medical boards screen applicants for criminal convictions through law enforcement agencies. Only two -- Florida and California -- require fingerprints for further verification with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Inf [...]

Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.

Access details

Join the AMA

RELATED CONTENT
» Former resident Swango pleads guilty to killing three patients Oct. 2, 2000

The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment.
Meeting coverage - Slideshow