System failure. Most U.S. hospitals have never filed a report with the databank that records doctor suspensions; critics say it's time for a new method.
The National Practitioner Data Bank was born in 1990, touted as an authoritative way to track doctors whose privileges were suspended. Initial predictions expected up to 10,000 reports yearly, but only about 10,800 reports have been made in 15 years. Many believe hospitals skirt the system by just issuing lesser punishments. "It happens," admits Mark Pincus, right, the databank administrator.
Romano
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D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D030881:Disclosure; D004647:Employee Discipline / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008504:Medical Staff Privileges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016749:National Practitioner Data Bank / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States