Question: Can I find out actions taken against doctors; complaints about doctors?
From: Mandy S. of Strasburg, PA

Answer: There are several websites available to check physician training. Some may offer information about disciplinary action taken against a physician but ease of access to the information may vary. Some state licensing boards may offer the information but getting it may be difficult. At a cost to the consumer, HealthGrades.com will indicate whether a physician has been disciplined but may not give specifics. The U.S. Office of the Inspector General administers two databanks that include disciplinary action against physicians but they are not available to the general public. They can be accessed by government agencies, credentialing organizations, and certain other parties. They are National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB). An on-line search will yield some sites such as Docinfo.org, a Web site operated by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). The public can access disciplinary, education, licensure and location information on U.S. licensed physicians and physician assistants. The consumer will pay a fee but can then receive credentialing and disciplinary information.