Licensee Information Glossary of Terms

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A

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Academic appointments - Medical colleges or universities at which the licensee is employed as a member of the faculty
Actions - Official acts by the NC Medical Board or other regulator; Actions may include revocations, suspensions, probations, limitations or restrictions, a fine or issuance of a license. Actions may be disciplinary or non-disciplinary
Active license - Licensee has a valid license to practice
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) - A not-for-profit organization that oversees 24 medical specialty boards that have developed and applied standards in the evaluation and certification of physicians
American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - The leading national professional organization for osteopathic physicians. Approves 18 medical specialty boards that have developed and applied standards in the evaluation and certification of osteopathic physicians
Areas of practice - Field or fields of medicine in which physician or physician assistant specializes

B

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Board certification - Licensee has met all eligibility requirements as defined by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association and has successfully passed a medical specialty board's exam

C

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Clinical practice - Time spent providing medical services after completing resident training
Conviction - Charged and found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony

D

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Doctor of Osteopathy - A specific type of physician whose education and training is different, but equivalent, to that received by a medical doctor (MD). A doctor of osteopathic medicine receives extensive training in the body’s musculoskeletal system and uses physical manipulations of the body to diagnose and treat many ailments.

F

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Felony - A crime that involves a potential punishment of one year or longer in prison
Fellowship - Advanced postgraduate medical training in a specific area of practice

H

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Health care institution - Institution that provides, or arranges access to, medical care, e.g.: hospitals, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations
Hospital privileges - A relationship between a medical facility and a medical practitioner whereby the practitioner has specific formal permission to treat and/or admit patients

I

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Inactive license - Not currently authorized to practice medicine in North Carolina
Internship - Typically, a medical school graduate's first year of postgraduate training

J

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Judgment - An award made by a court in response to a malpractice claim; An award resolves the case in favor of the plaintiff and typically involves a monetary payment.

L

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License limitations - Specific restrictions on a licensee's ability to practice
License status - The current status of the licensee's professional license; e.g. active or inactive
Licensee - A person who has been approved by the North Carolina Medical Board to practice in the state of North Carolina
Licensure history - An account that shows changes in the status of an individual licensee's professional license in North Carolina over time

M

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Malpractice - Professional negligence by act or omission by a health care practitioner in which care deviates from accepted standards of practice and causes injury or death to the patient
Misdemeanor - A crime punishable with incarceration for less than one year; less serious than a felony

O

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Out of country license - Licensee has or had authorization to practice in a country other than the United States
Out of state license - Licensee has or had authorization to practice in a state other than North Carolina

P

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Physician Assistant - A healthcare professional licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Physician assistants (PAs) conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and write prescriptions
Postgraduate training - Specialized training offered in a clinical setting such as a hospital including internship, residency and fellowship
Practice philosophy - Licensee's values and beliefs with regard to patient care
Privileges suspended - Temporary or permanent cancellation of a licensee's privilege to treat and/or admit patients to a specific healthcare institution
Professional volunteer service - Medical service of a voluntary nature
Public actions - Legal documents, including disciplinary actions, that provide certain details related to the official actions of the NC Medical Board; May include charges & allegations, findings of fact and discipline regarding a licensee
Publications - Peer-reviewed articles, books, or other media authored by a licensee

R

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Regulatory board - Any professional licensing organization overseeing rules adopted in order to implement the law
Renewal date - Date upon which the licensee is required to renew his or her professional license
Residency - A stage of postgraduate medical training that includes a number of years of practice under the supervision of fully licensed physicians.
Revocation - Cancellation of licensee's authorization to practice. Under North Carolina law, authorization may not be reissued for at least two years.
RTL - Resident Training License. A resident is not assigned a license number.

S

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Settlement - An out-of-court agreement that resolves a claim of malpractice; Often includes a monetary payment.
States licensed - States in the USA, other than North Carolina, where a physician or physician assistant is, or was previously, approved to practice
Supervisor - A licensed physician who oversees a licensed physician assistant or an approved nurse practitioner
Suspension - Withdrawal of licensee's authorization to practice; May be indefinite or for a stipulated period of time

T

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Training - Postgraduate medical education including internship, residency and fellowships