The Medical Society of State of New York (“MSSNY”) has issued an alert advising physicians that the Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (“OPMC”) intends to take action against those physicians who have failed to update their New York State Physician Profiles. The Department of Health (“DOH”) requires physicians to maintain accurate profiles. Every physician licensed to practice medicine in New York State has a legal obligation to ensure that their Physician Profile is updated at least six months prior to the expiration of their registration period, and in some instances, within a short period of time following adverse developments, such as a privileging impairment or license restriction, for example.
Physician Profiles can be accessed by the public through the OPMC and DOH websites. The database was formed after the New York Patient Health Information and Quality Improvement Act of 2000 was enacted, for the purpose of enabling the public to obtain information on current and potential medical providers.
According to the alert, OPMC is specifically targeting those physicians who have received multiple notices and phone calls from the DOH, remain non-compliant for more than 60 days after receiving the last phone call. Physicians who are not compliant may be found guilty of professional misconduct. Instructions for updating your profile can be found here.