Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions for Docinfo.
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What is Docinfo.org? |
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Docinfo.org, a Web site operated by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), is the most accurate and trusted source for physician professional and disciplinary information. Through this Web site, the public can access disciplinary, education, licensure and location information on U.S. licensed physicians and physician assistants.
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| 2. |
What is the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)? |
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The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a clearinghouse, forum and representative body for our membership, which is comprised of the 70 state medical boards of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. At the direction of our member medical boards and on behalf of the people they serve, we continue to make significant contributions to the effectiveness and integrity of the medical licensing and disciplinary systems, the essential components guaranteeing medical quality in the United States.
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What type of information do you provide to the public? |
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Through Docinfo.org, the public has access to U.S. licensed physician and some physician assistant information. Once a user completes the online physician search process, he/she will receive an FSMB Physician Profile, which includes information on physician disciplinary sanctions, education, licensure history and location information. Whenever disciplinary information exists, this report will provide the name of the state medical board or licensing agency that initiated the action, what type of disciplinary action was taken (such as a license revocation, probation, suspension, etc.,) the date of the action and the basis or reason(s) for the action. The FSMB Physician Profile does not include information on medical malpractice settlements or claims.
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Is there a fee for obtaining a FSMB Physician Profile? |
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Our search is a national search process, and the fee per physician inquiry is $9.95. We currently accept MasterCard and Visa. For those who do not want to enter their credit card information online, we also accept cashier's checks and money orders. Please make these payable to the Federation of State Medical Boards.
For access to free information you will be required to contact the respective state medical board. You may find their web site by clicking here. Many state boards provide free access to information on their licensees, but it is important to remember that a physician may have disciplinary actions in another state where they have been licensed.
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| 5. |
What does it mean if a physician has a disciplinary action(s) on file? |
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If a physician has a disciplinary action on file, that means a state medical or osteopathic board, and/or another federal regulatory agency, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, has determined that a violation of the rules and regulations established by that medical regulatory agency has occurred. Reasons for a disciplinary action will vary, and include, but are not limited to, violations of professional/moral conduct, controlled substance violations, quality of care, substance abuse, fraud, violation and/or conviction of state/federal law, physical or mental impairment, sexual abuse, action taken by another board or agency and sanctions taken by federal agencies or the military.
If a physician does not have any disciplinary action file, that means the physician you searched is clear of board sanctions. We believe this information is just as valuable as receiving a report with board sanctions as it should give peace of mind that the physician you've selected is clear of any action.
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How quickly can I expect to get information on my doctor? |
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For those who perform their search online, you can expect to get your results within a few seconds. For those who wish to mail their requests, please allow 5-7 business days to process your request.
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| 7. |
Where do you get your physician information? |
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The Federation of State Medical Boards collects information from:
- 70 State medical allopathic and osteopathic boards
- The Department of Health and Human Services
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- International licensing authorities, including Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand
To be included in our data bank, a disciplinary action must be a matter of public record or be legally releasable by state medical boards and other licensing authorities.
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| 8. |
How often is your information updated? |
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Docinfo.org and the FSMB obtain its information from sources we believe to be reliable. The information provided is supplied "AS IS", and is supplied by reporting agencies on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
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What if I can't find my physician on Docinfo.org? |
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If you cannot find a physician on Docinfo.org, you should first determine if you have the correct spelling of the physician's first and last name. Although our search will find records that roughly match the name you entered, a misspelled name can substantially affect the search results. Physicians can also have multiple office locations, so you need to determine if you have a correct and/or current address for that physician.
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Does your web site ensure that my personal information is kept private and confidential? |
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To help ensure the privacy and integrity of the personal information you provide via the Internet, Docinfo.org uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software. Not only is SSL used to encrypt your credit card information, name and address, but this software is also used to protect the confidentiality of that information.
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What if I don't want to pay by credit card, but I still want information on my doctor? |
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If you do not want to pay by credit card, you can still access a physician's profile by downloading the FSMB Physician Profile Request Form from your computer and mailing it to the address on the form. This form can be found in the Order Options box, under Mail In Request. Your request must include the physician's first and last name, the address, city, state and zip code he/she is located in. Any additional information you can provide will further allow us to narrow our search and find the physician for whom you are requesting information.
Please send a cashier's check or money order in the amount of $9.95 made payable to the Federation of State Medical Boards. Please allow 5-7 business days to process your request. Once your request has been processed, it will be mailed to the address listed on the request form.
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| 12. |
Am I limited to the number of searches I can perform at one time? |
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You are not limited to the number of searches you can perform at one time. However, after 20 minutes of inactivity you may be "bumped" off the site, at which time you will be required to log on again. Please remember, the cost per physician report is $9.95.
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What type of health care professionals can I search? |
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Through Docinfo.org, the public can perform searches on U.S. licensed medical physicians (M.D.), osteopathic physicians (D.O.) and some physician assistants (P.A.). At this time, we do not collect information on chiropractors, dentists, dietitians, nurses, and podiatrists.
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When is the web site available? |
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The Docinfo web site is available 24 hours a day, except on Sundays from 2:00 AM (CST) to 7:00 AM (CST). During this time, the web site will be unavailable so that we can perform scheduled system maintenance.
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