Texas medical board vows to speed up process

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Texas medical board vows to speed up process Some physicians say the board is

spending too much time investigating issues that don't deal directly with

patient care. By Damon , AMNews staff. Nov. 26, 2007.

Texas Medical Board leaders hope to have a new process next year to handle minor

violations that some physicians complain cost them too much time and money to

resolve.

If the plan is approved by the board after hearings, violations such as failure

to release medical records would be handled in a streamlined process, likely

within 30 to 60 days.

Minor infractions would be managed without full-scale investigations, and

physicians in those cases would not have their names listed in a board

newsletter.

" It's going to save us time so we can spend our assets on standard-of-care

cases, " said board Executive Director W. , MD.

Board officials discussed the proposal during a state House appropriations

subcommittee hearing on Oct. 23 in Austin, Texas. The special meeting attracted

physicians who criticized the board for making them spend months and thousands

of dollars to go through the investigation process for minor violations.

Board leaders said they are just doing their job. They said 7% of complaints

against doctors result in board actions, a figure that has remained the same

since 2003.

" If you want us not to enforce certain minor violations, then so be it. Tell us

which ones we should not enforce. We are just following the letter of the law, "

board President a Kalafut, DO, told the subcommittee.

But in recent years, the media and legislators have bashed the board for being

too easy on physicians, particularly those who committed sexual offenses. In

2003, Texas passed a law that provided the board with more funding and called

for speedier handling of complaints, especially cases involving sexual

misconduct.

Doctors unhappy with board During last month's packed, 11-hour subcommittee

hearing, physicians slammed the board for overenforcement. They said the board

unfairly allows anonymous complaints and cloaks the process in secrecy.

State Rep. Fred Brown, subcommittee chair, said physicians complained that they

devoted months to the board's enforcement process over issues such as small

overcharges on patients. " They were being treated so harshly over minor

infractions, " Brown said. " That all came to light, and we heard those stories

over and over again. "

7% of complaints against Texas doctors result in medical board actions.

Some media outlets questioned if Brown had a conflict of interest by calling

the meeting because his business partner is a gynecologist who has a pending

contested case with the medical board concerning standard-of-care issues. Brown,

who had formed a health network with the physician, said there are no conflicts.

The Texas Medical Assn. supports a strong medical board, said A. Tomas ,

MD, a Houston cardiologist and member of the TMA's board of trustees. Dr.

said the board should give priority to cases involving quality of care, sexual

misconduct and impairment.

Brown said he was optimistic that the board would streamline its process and

focus more on standard-of-care issues.

" We feel like they're moving in the right direction, " he said.

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