Local Databases: U.S.: "New Illinois Doctor Database Launches Online" (Physician Profiles)

From the Chicago Tribune:

Illinois patients can now research their doctors using an online database the state launched Wednesday.
The idea is to take the guesswork out of choosing a doctor by allowing easier access to information about the state’s 46,000 licensed physicians and surgeons.
The database can be accessed through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s website at idfpr.com. There, patients can learn about a doctor’s educational background and training, determine what type of insurance they accept and find out what languages are spoken in the office.
Also included is information regarding criminal convictions, whether hospital privileges have been revoked and disciplinary action against the doctor by regulators in Illinois and other states.

Read the Complete Article
Direct to Physician Profile Search at:
DoctorInfo.illinois.gov.
See Also: Official News Release from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

More than 85 percent of all licensed physicians and surgeons have provided the information necessary to create or update their profiles. Categories of information available to consumers include: the location and scope of practice; the type of insurance the physician accepts; specialties and certifications; legal and disciplinary actions taken against the physician; educational background; and professional activities or honors.
“It is clear that Illinoisans are craving this information and they should,” said Brent Adams, Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. “Everyone is entitled to providing informed consent to medical treatment – not just being informed as to the procedure or medication, but also being informed as to who is recommending that course of treatment.”
The new website takes the place of Illinois’ original physician profile website, which was available between 2008 and 2010 and was removed as part of a larger Supreme Court decision. At the time, it averaged over 150,000 hits per week by over 42,000 unique visitors.

Filed under: News, Profiles