25% of physicians have faced a medical board investigation at least once: 9 takeaways

Nearly one in four physicians have been investigated by a medical board at least once, according to Medscape’s “‘Be Just and Fair’: Medscape Physicians’ Thoughts on Medical Boards Report 2024,” published Aug. 27. 

Advertisement

Here are eight additional facts to know about physicians and medical board investigations: 

1. Only 5% of physicians have been the subject of a complaint to a state medical board more than once. 

2. About 34% of board investigations are triggered by patients and their families, while 24% are triggered by other physicians. 

3. Medical board complaints impact 38% of physician’s interactions with patients a little, while 24% of physician interactions are impacted a lot. 

4. Medical board complaints impact 41% of physician’s attention to tasks a little, while 31% of physician interactions are impacted a lot. 

5. Half of physicians feel a responsibility to report fellow physicians’ misbehavior to medical boards. 

6. About 45% of physicians believe that medical board investigations are thorough and appropriately tough, while an additional 45% believe they are strict in some cases and easygoing in others. 

7. Only 10% of physicians believe that medical boards are inconsistent in enforcing rules. 

8. Over half of physicians (53%) back medical boards targeting medical misinformation. 

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC News

  • The federal physician self-referral law — better known as the Stark law — was enacted in 1989 and aims to…

  • Hospital consolidation continued in the past month, with health systems across the U.S. signing and closing merger, acquisition and transfer…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.