Stricter requirements sought for relicensure as medical boards draft proposal

The FSMB wants physicians to prove competence through a process similar to maintenance of board certification. Doctors see even more paperwork ahead.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. Dec. 24/31, 2007.

State medical board leaders are exploring a new way to assure the public that physicians retain skills throughout their careers. But some doctors say the boards' plan is just more busywork.

Board leaders are working on an initiative to expand the requirements for maintenance of licensure, a process in which doctors demonstrate continued competence at the time of relicensing. In most states, physicians can maintain their licenses just by having no disciplinary actions against them and by completing a minimum number of hours of continuing medical education.

But a draft report released last month by a Federation of State Medical Boards committee recommends that boards require doctors applying for relicensure to participate in self-evaluation and practice assessment, show continued competence in areas such as patient care and medical knowledge, and complete an exam in their practice areas.

The process, committee members said, would be similar to maintenance of certification, a voluntary program used by specialty boards to ensure lifelong learning as a part of board certification. Members said most medical boards likely would accept recertification as meeting the maintenance of licensure requirements.

If the proposal is approved by the FSMB's house of delegates in May 2008, state medical boards could use the report's guidelines to establish a licensure plan in their states.

Medical board leaders are considering more rigorous maintenance of licensure because of a greater public demand for physician accountability, said James N. Thompson, MD, president and CEO of the FSMB. He added that the move also was in response to Institute of Medicine reports calling for greater attention to patient safety.