profession
California medical board clears license backlog
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 25, 2010
With the help of new staff, an extra push by existing staff and an automated system to track work flow, the Medical Board of California cleared a backlog of hundreds of physician license applications on Dec. 23, 2009.
The number of applications that were awaiting approval had reached a high of 700 at the beginning of August 2009.
In an effort to speed processing of applications, the California Medical Assn. filed a lawsuit in October 2009 seeking an end to state-ordered furloughs for the medical board staff. The CMA charged that the furloughs, part of a statewide budget-cutting effort, contributed to the backlog by requiring board employees to take three days off each month.
Delays in licensing approvals had prevented physicians from starting new jobs and contributed to a statewide physician shortage, the CMA said.
The association is still going forward with its suit, according to a spokesperson, and a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/01/25/prbf0125.htm.
