| BOARD HISTORY |
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The Oregon Medical Board has licensed and monitored the professional conduct of Oregon's physicians since 1889. Within the last 25 years, the Board has added other health care professionals to its licensing and monitoring functions. As of September 2002, the Board was responsible for more than 13,400 licensees. 87% MDs, 5% DOs, 4% PAs, 3% LAcs, 1% DPMs. It investigates complaints against its licensees and takes disciplinary action when necessary.
The Board is also responsible for approving additions or changes to the scope of practice for all levels of emergency medical technicians (EMT), determining the qualifications of EMT supervising physicians, and for nominating the physician members of the Health Division State EMS Committee.
The Board's authority comes from Chapter 677 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, also called the Medical Practice Act, and Chapter 847 of the Oregon Administrative Rules, which guide the functions of the Board.
While being assertive and vigorous in its investigation of unprofessional conduct and malfeasance, the Board works equally hard to rehabilitate problem practitioners and restore them to active, useful service to the people of Oregon. Since the Board believes that the best time to deal with problem practitioners is before they have injured any patients, it has adopted a proactive stance, working to prevent problems wherever possible. It does this through educational outreach (primarily through newsletters, its Handbook for Physicians Practicing Medicine in Oregon, brochures, and educational programs) and through operating a diversion program for practitioners suffering from substance abuse disorders.
Although a state agency, the Board receives no money from the state's General Fund. Most of the Board's funding is generated by the licensing and registration fees paid by licensees.
From "Regulations, Rights and Responsibilities: A Handbook for Physicians Practicing Medicine in Oregon"
In 1889 Oregon legislators responded to demands from the medical community and passed a bill creating the Board of Medical Examiners (BME).
Charged with regulating the practice of medicine in Oregon, the Board was appointed by the governor and included "three persons from among the most competent physicians in the state."
Licensing requirements were relatively simple. Physicians either had to show a diploma from a medical school, pass an exam given by the Board, or, if already practicing, register within 60 days of the new law's passage.
Over the next 40 years, the Medical Practice Act went through significant changes. In 1895, the legislature added two members to the BME and defined unprofessional conduct for the first time to include "employment of cappers or steerers (payment for patient testimonials), moral turpitude, betraying professional secrets, and obtaining a fee for the care of an incurable disease."
Applicants also were now required to submit their educational credentials and pass an exam on all branches of medicine.
An osteopathic physician was added to the Board in 1907 when the legislature moved osteopathic physicians under the Board's supervision.
By 1931 legislation passed that required all new physicians to pass a state-administered basic science test before a medical license would be granted.
By the late 1940s, the BME began to put physicians who violated the Medical Practice Act on probation. These disciplinary efforts, in combination with the basic science exam requirement, made Oregon one of the most difficult states in which to get a medical license.
During the 1973 legislature, the basic science exam requirement was repealed after it was determined other credentialing/licensing exams served the same purpose.
About this time, the Board's activities began to change and expand. After 82 years of regulating the medical practice provided by physicians only, the OMB became responsible for the licensing of other health-care professionals.
Over the past 20 years, the Board has added several groups and today oversees physician assistants, acupuncturists, and podiatrists.
In 1975 the legislature passed several bills to increase the OMB's power in disciplinary matters. The Medical Practice Act was changed to allow a physician's license to be summarily suspended when the physician poses an immediate danger to the public. Additional legislation passed that guarantees confidentiality to anyone filing a complaint against a physician. It also included a requirement for physicians to report directly to the Board colleagues who violate the Medical Practice Act.
As a result of these changes, the OMB has seen a dramatic increase in the number of complaints it receives.
Since its modest beginnings more than 110 years ago, the OMB has changed markedly. It has gone from three board members to 11, including two public members. In 1900, the Board was responsible for 627 licensees; by the year 2000 the number had grown to 11,500 and still growing.
Despite administrative and regulatory changes, the mission of the Oregon Medical Board has remained constant since the beginning - to ensure the people of Oregon receive appropriate medical care from qualified professionals.
On January 1, 2008, the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners became the Oregon Medical Board. The 2007 Legislature approved the name change at the BME’s request. The Board requested the name change in order to reflect the fact that the BME no longer examines candidates for licensure, and to eliminate possible confusion with the State Medical Examiner.
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