For immediate release: December 13, 2006 (06-204)

Contacts:
David Magby, Health Professions 360-236-4660
Deanna Mill, Communications Office 360-236-4022

New system spots health care providers with felony convictions

OLYMPIA - The state Department of Health has identified more than 30 licensed health care providers with recent felony convictions, thanks to a cross-referencing system now in place.

Under a new state law (House Bill #2974), the Washington State Patrol (WSP) reports certain felony convictions to the health department each quarter. The information is compared to the agency’s licensee database. These convictions include crimes such as homicide, assault, kidnapping or sex offenses.

"This important tool will improve patient safety in Washington and ensure that people are getting the care they deserve," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "The cooperation between the Department of Health and the State Patrol is a smart, common-sense idea that will help us protect patients from unsafe providers."

Current law requires health care providers to notify the Department of Health of any "conviction, determination or finding" that they engaged in unprofessional conduct or are unable to practice with reasonable skill or safety.

"Patient safety is our highest priority," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We know that some health practitioners don’t report their convictions to us. Now we’re able to find out who they are and take action. This is one of several new initiatives we’ve adopted this year to help make patients safer."

Among the other improvements, all complaints involving sexual misconduct or serious patient harm have been made a top priority. They are reviewed within 24 hours and an emergency case management team is assembled to speed the investigation. This has resulted in many more health care providers being suspended immediately, taking them out of practice until a hearing is held. And in June, the agency began using two national databanks to check if health care license applicants have been disciplined by health officials in other states.

Since the conviction data-matching began in late October, agency staff has found 32 practitioners who were convicted of crimes during the first six months of 2006. These cases are under review by the agency and its affiliated boards and commissions.

The conviction reports are processed by the agency’s Health Professions Quality Assurance office. The office helps assure access to safe, competent health care providers. The office works with 12 boards, four commissions, and eight advisory committees. It sets licensing standards for 57 health care professions. This includes, among others, medical doctors, nurses, and counselors. The program and its partners credential nearly 300,000 health care professionals in our state.

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