The study ranks the best and worst states for protecting patients against serious disciplinary actions, such as revocations, surrenders, suspensions and probation/restrictions and compares the number of disciplinary actions by year.
Currently, the rate of serious disciplinary actions across the country per 1,000 physicians is 2.92, which is 21.5 percent lower than the peak rate in 2004 of 3.72 serious actions per 1,000 physicians. According to the study, the decrease in disciplinary actions could indicate that states are failing to appropriately investigate and punish improper physician conduct.
According to the study, Minnesota was ranked as the worst state for disciplining physicians, with 0.95 actions per 1,000 physicians. Other lowest-ranked states included South Carolina (1.23), Wisconsin (1.64), Mississippi (1.87), Connecticut (1.97), New Hampshire (2.10), Maryland (2.20), Florida (2.35), California (2.37) and Georgia (2.40).
Four of the top 10 worst states for 2008, according to the study ─ Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina and Wisconsin ─ have been consistently among the bottom 10 states for each of the last six three-year periods. Additionally, Mississippi has been among the bottom 10 states for each of the last five three-year cycles, and Connecticut has been in the bottom 10 states for each of the last three three-year cycles.
Alaska was ranked the top state for disciplining physicians, with 6.54 actions per 1,000 physicians. Other top-ranked states included Kentucky (5.87), Ohio (5.33), Arizona (5.12), Oklahoma (5.02), North Dakota (4.99), Louisiana (4.74), Iowa (4.56), Colorado (4.54) and Maine (4.44).
Read the Public Citizens' Health Research Group report on physician disciplinary actions.