An Evaluation of Clinicians with Subsequent Disciplinary Actions: Washington Medical Commission

Abstract

In an effort to better understand levels of recidivism among physicians and physician assistants in the state of Washington, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) assessed 12 years of disciplinary information, drawing on sanctions delivered in the state during the period 2008–2020. The WMC identified the frequency and severity of disciplinary actions, the offenses leading to actions and the degree to which sanctioned physicians were subsequently sanctioned again. The most significant finding of the study is that there are common timelines and complaint instances among recidivist providers in Washington. This finding suggests that proactive interventions by medical boards, aimed at reducing the incidence of recidivism, may merit further study and consideration.