Consumer background and composition on state medical boards: Who are these citizen members and do they adequately protect the public?

The composition and background of members of state medical boards, including public or citizen members, can impact the functionality and public perception of medical boards in the United States. This study analyzed the number of public members on each state medical board and their professional backgrounds or expertise to regulate the medical profession. The findings show that for nearly half of state medical boards public members comprise at least a quarter of their voting members; however, more than half of public members for all state medical boards have no measurable medical experience or background, including in patient safety. The need for public members to have medical expertise or background – especially in patient safety -- is discussed along with potential policy recommendations.

Protecting Patients from Egregious Wrongdoing by Physicians: Consensus Recommendations from State Medical Board Members and Staff

ABSTRACT Purpose There is wide variability in the frequency and severity of disciplinary actions imposed by state medical boards (SMBs) against physicians who engage in egregious wrongdoing. We sought to identify cutting-edge and particularly effective practices, resources, and statutory provisions that SMBs can adopt to better protect patients from harmful physicians. Main findings Using a modified Delphi panel, expert consensus was reached for 51 recommendations that were rated as highly important for SMBs. Panelists included physicians, executive members, legal counsel, and public members from approximately 50% of the 71 SMBs that serve the United States and its territories. Conclusion The expert-informed list of recommendations can help support more effective and transparent actions and processes by SMBs when addressing suspected egregious wrongdoing. While some SMBs may be limited in what policies and provisions they can adopt without approval or assistance from state government, many of these recommendations can be autonomously adopted by SMBs without external support.