State Board of Medical Examiners Fails to Keep Disciplinary Notices Up-to-Date

When the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners disciplines a healthcare professional, the public needs to know.

But residents of the Garden State may find it difficult -- if not impossible -- to access anything like current information. The board has failed to update its record of public disciplinary notices since November 2012.

That gives New Jersey the dubious distinction of finishing in last place among all 49 medical boards that post comparable records, according to research for this article. It also means that many residents are unable to reach a fully informed decision about medical care, one of the most important that many will make.

“We have a right to know who's treating us,” said Bonnie Parks, a resident of East Brunswick who holds a Masters of Public Health. “We have a right to know where they went to school and what their certifications are.”

Parks is hardly alone. The licensed physician search feature on the agency's website receives thousands of queries each month. According to the board, the site was accessed 54,790 times during January 2013. Visitors average 9.14 page views per visit.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

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