Earlier this summer, Illinois Gov. Quinn signed the Patients’ Right to Know Act. In mid October, people will be able to search physician and chiropractor profiles on the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation’s website. Records can be accessed to locate physicians at specific hospitals or with particular medical specialties.
People will be able to select medical professionals proactively and see reports of any disciplinary or legal proceedings that have occurred in the last five years. This includes any medical malpractice settlements, felony criminal convictions, Class A misdemeanors, disciplinary measures outside of Illinois, and any restriction of hospital privileges. Basic information regarding the physician’s years of practice and license status is also provided.
“This is important information, and we wanted to make it as accessible and transparent as possible,” said Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), who co-sponsored the bill. “Today, you can do your banking online, take a virtual tour of a home, and it’s important that we bring that technology to bear on one of the most important decisions you can make – who to choose as your doctor.”
The push for reactivation of this searchable database was strong. For two years the physician profiles were taken offline when an Illinois Supreme Court case invalidated the program along with instituting other medical malpractice caps. People used to flock to the database that attracted more than 21,400 searches daily.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that up to 98,000 people die from medical mistakes each year. The objectives of the HHS’ National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) are to:
– Promote a culture of safety throughout health care organizations to decrease healthcare-related infections and serious adverse events
– Reduce preventable and premature deaths in hospitals
– Reduce monthly death rates for acute myocardial infarction and pneumonia
“Rapid identification and aggressive treatment of complications may prevent these complications from leading to death,” the NHQR stated.
The NHQR states that hospital staffs owe their patients a high standard of care and office-based physicians, outpatient departments, and pharmacies are also responsible for ensuring a patient’s safety. The searchable database will be another tool to empower patients to make informed medical decisions.
Medical professionals have a duty to care for their patients and safeguard them from further harm. When an individual’s rights have been compromised or neglected, they should immediately contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer to hold the guilty party accountable.
Robert I. Briskman is a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer and Chicago medical malpractice attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
