Physician disciplinary actions: The National Practitioner Data Bank

In August 2023, Public Citizen, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit consumer advocacy group, published the report, “Ranking of the Rate of State Medical Boards’ Serious Disciplinary Actions, 2019-2021.” The National Practitioner Data Bank tallies information about disciplinary actions against physician misconduct. Report coauthor Robert E. Oshel, PhD, discusses what it is, how it is used by hospitals and licensing boards, and why the information is valuable.