Database Info

	The Medical Providers Background Check database provides information on millions of providers in the United States, including Chiropractors, Dentists, Doctors (Medical and Osteopathic), Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Osteopathic Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, Podiatrists, Psychologists, and Social Workers. Searching in this database will allow you to easily view the licensing information of a provider and any license related actions associated with the provider. The records are compiled from State Licensing Boards, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and others. See the Coverage Area for specific sources by profession.
	Types of Providers Approximate # of Records Chiropractor 121,000 Dentist 303,000 Doctor / Physician 1,394,000 Nurse 5,842,000 Occupational Therapist 154,000 Optometrist 75,000 Osteopathic Physician Assistant 929 Pharmacist 527,000 Pharmacy Technician 319,000 Physical Therapist 342,000 Physician Assistant 134,000 Podiatrist 33,000 Psychologist 165,000 Social Worker 460,000
	Use the Medical Providers Background Check database to: Check the background of a provider, including licensed areas of practice Verify the license status of a provider Uncover any history of fraudulent practices or license related actions Verify a provider’s educational background (where available)
	The following information may be available by purchasing a Medical Providers Background Check report: Name Address License Information License Related Actions (including disciplinary actions, sanctions, consent orders, consent agreements, dismissals, non-disciplinary communications, advisory letters and other licensing information).
	In addition, the following information may also be available for some provider types: gender, year of birth, phone and fax numbers, education (school and graduation date), government information such as DEA license, and Residency Information.
	Glossary of Terms Name – Provider’s name as reported by the sources. Phone Number/Fax Number – Provider’s business phone and/or fax number as reported by the sources. Address – Provider’s business address as reported by the sources. County -- County where the address is located. Area of Practice -- This indicates specialty area of practice as designated by the provider. Residencies -- Indicates residencies, internships, or fellowships where the provider received training. Government -- Information from government sources such as registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Gender -- Indicates whether the provider is male or female. Year of Birth -- Indicates the year the provider was born. Education/Graduation Year -- School from which the provider graduated along with the year of graduation.
	Drug Classification Drugs are classified according to their potential for abuse, the substance’s medical use and the safety or dependence liability. The greater the perceived potential for abuse, the greater the limitations on their use and the numerically lower schedule. Schedules range from 1 (highest potential for abuse) to Schedule 5 (lowest potential for abuse). Schedule 2N and 3N are for non-narcotic drugs.
	License and License Related Actions Information The information in the report is updated each time an agency of the federal government or a state agency releases publication findings or minutes of disciplinary hearings. The time period between updates varies from state to state and agency to agency, with some publishing updates as actions are taken, some on a weekly or monthly basis, and others as little as once per year.
	The Licensure data will reflect the different reporting cycles used by each individual state board. Expired as well as current licenses are included to enable us to track the provider and possible license related actions taken by the various states in which the provider has held a license. It also provides information about where the provider has practiced during his/her lifetime.
	The License Related Actions section of the report may contain information from one or more of the following sources: The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) list of sanctioned providers. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) list of sanctioned providers. The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) database of providers that have been convicted of violations such as Medicare or Medicaid fraud. State Licensing Boards in the US and Puerto Rico where, in most cases, the license related actions include details of the nature of the charge(s) brought against a specific provider, the time period in question, and the action(s) recommended or taken by the board.
	Terminology It is important to note that Licensing Board actions and terminology for minor offenses may vary from state to state. For more serious actions, there is a greater degree of uniformity. The following terms are common license related throughout most of the United States
	Probation This status is often accompanied by specific terms which can place serious limitations on the provider’s practice. It may be for a specified duration (often measured in years) or it may be permanent. A provider under probation is usually subject to continued monitoring by the State Board.
	Suspension The provider's license has been suspended, during which time they are unable to practice. Some suspensions are considered Summary actions; such an emergency measure is undertaken when the situation is deemed to be an immediate threat to the public.
	Revocation When a provider's medical license to practice is revoked, this action is usually permanent. However, revocation does not always preclude a provider from practicing in other states in which they are licensed.
	Surrender of License Often, to avoid confrontations with the board or prolonged legal battles, a provider will voluntarily surrender his/her license to practice in a given state. A surrender that is considered to be 'With Cause' generally occurs while an action was pending against the provider in question. Note that in many states, a provider whose license has been suspended or revoked by his/her state Licensing Board may continue to practice during the appeal of said revocation or suspension.
	Legal Information At present, Medical Providers Background Check reports do not contain information on legal actions taken against providers for malpractice, but it is possible that a malpractice judgment may be referenced in the license related actions section of the report. If such a reference to malpractice does appear, be aware that a malpractice judgment is an award for damages and does not necessarily reflect that the provider's medical competence is sub-standard. In most cases, such reported judgments are reviewed by the licensing boards and action is taken only if it is then determined that a violation of existing medical standards has occurred. Judgments are subject to appeal.
	KnowX is a third party source of data and cannot explain license related actions. For further detail, contact the agency that took the action.

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