Licensee Search

A

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

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

Clinical practice

Time spent providing medical services after completing resident training

Conviction

Charged and found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony

D

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

A doctor of osteopathic medicine, or DO, is a specific type of physician. A DO degree is equivalent, though different in certain aspects, to a medical degree (MD). Both medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine complete four years of medical education and both complete between three and six years of graduate medical education (residency training) depending on the chosen specialty. Both types of physicians must pass comparable examinations as a condition of licensure.

The main distinction between DOs and MDs is that, in addition to traditional medical training, osteopathic physicians receive extensive training in the body's musculoskeletal system. This is the interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of a person's body mass. According to the American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic manipulative treatment or OMT is incorporated into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and injury. Finally, most osteopathic physicians specialize in primary care, including pediatrics, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine.

E

Expire Date

The date on which a licensee's NC medical or physician assistant license became inactive. NOTE: Only inactive licensees' information pages display an expire date. Active licenseholders' pages show a Renewal Date, which indicates the date by which his or her license must be renewed. If a licensee fails to renew and the license lapses, an Expire Date may then be assigned (assuming the licensee does not seek reactivation of the license). See also Renewal Date.

F

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

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

Inactive license

Not currently authorized to practice medicine in North Carolina

Internship

Typically, a medical school graduate's first year of postgraduate training

J

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

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

LP

Licensed perfusionist

M

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

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

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

PA-C

Physician assistant - certified

PLP

Provisional licensed perfusionist

R

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. NOTE: Active licensees do not have an Expire Date. If a licensee fails to renew and the license lapses, an Expire Date may then be assigned (assuming the licensee does not seek reactivation of the license). See also Expire Date.

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

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 (MD or DO) 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

Training

Postgraduate medical education including internship, residency and fellowships