Licensee Search

Glossary of Terms

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
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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

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C

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

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

Training
Postgraduate medical education including internship, residency and fellowships
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