The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards' Prize jury has announced the winners of its 2008 competition. A copy of the prize book showing details of the winning designs is available upon request.
According to a new performance audit report on the Board of Medicine. management controls are "weak or nonexistent" in many areas. The 34 report findings, which cover fiscal years 2002-2006, include no investigation or final action in 21% of disciplinary cases, missing or lacking written policies and procedures, failure to follow the statute and administrative rules, and staffers hiring family members.Two house committees immediately scheduled a joint hearing to review the board's activities. The board chairman and administrator dispute the report's findings, saying that problems stem from the legislature's failure to provide sufficient money for software and staff. The board is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Read more.
In "License to Serve," State Legislatures reports that states have choices under the “Uniform Emergency Volunteer Healthcare Practitioners Act.” The model legislation is designed to allow health professionals licensed in one state to meet emergency needs in another without worrying about licensure or liability issues. The model would establish a recognition system for registered out-of-state professionals, provide liability protection to volunteers, and also provide for workers' compensation if necessary. A version of the act has passed in three states and is being considered in another six.
The April 2008 issue of The Regulatory Review contains "Key Features of New Zealand's Broader Regulatory Management System." The article is based on a presentation to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC's) recent Economic Committee meeting in Peru. Read more on the history of the review process.
As part of the physician profiles it will make available beginning in 2009, the North Carolina Medical Board would like to include malpractice settlement information. The North Carolina Medical Society says publishing this information would not prove useful to consumers and could harm doctors. Read more.
The Federation of State Medical Boards has released two reports: State of the States: Physician Regulation 2008 and Summary of 2007 Board Actions, a state-by-state analysis of medical board disciplinary actions taken during the previous year.
The Public Citizen’s Health Research Group Ranking of the Rate of State Medical Boards’ Serious Disciplinary Actions, 2005-2007 draws on the federation's disciplinary data for its annual tabulation released today.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is taking its message to the malls with an “Ugly Business” campaign intended to educate consumers on the dangers of unlicensed activity.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has published its 2006-2007 Annual Report. The department regulates over 2.4 million professionals in 255 professions. During the past fiscal year, it achieved more than $71 million in restitution to consumers. The department also established a multimedia page featuring its consumer protection activities.
The Ministry of Health has posted a revised unofficial consolidation of the Health Professions Act including amendments proposed in Bill 25, the Health Professions (Regulatory Reform) Amendment Act, 2008.
A recent study of medical malpractice reform measures and insurance rates found that neither had an effect on relocation of obstetrical physicians. Another study concluded that tort reform may be unrelated to the amount of damages awarded in urology cases. Read more from InjuryBoard.com.
