News and briefs: NPDB takes down public-use web page

The National Practitioner Data Bank is blocking the public from its online Public Use Data File while it examines ways to enhance protection of its confidential information. According to the NPDB’s web site, "the Division of Practitioner Data Banks is reviewing its procedures for disclosing information in a form that does not permit the identification of any particular healthcare entity, physician, other healthcare practitioner, or patient."

The web page does not give identifying information about a physician; his or her identity is confidential by removing name, specific age, and location of practice. What information is provided to the public is any disciplinary action or malpractice lawsuits against "physician 1234," for example. This move, put into motion last week, has patient advocacy and media outlets upset because even without being able to identify specific physicians, they used the information to developing research, analysis, and reform geared toward patient safety.

According to the media outlet McClatchy, the decision to restrict public access came after NPDB learned that The Kansas City Star was using reports for a story on doctors in Kansas and Missouri who have not been disciplined, despite numerous allegations of malpractice. The Star used the information provided by NPDB and cross referenced it with court records to identify one of the physicians.

Martin Kramer, spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department’s Health Resources and Services Administration, the agency that oversees the data bank, told McClatchy: "We’ve seen (The Star’s) reporting and others that show your ability to triangulate on data bank data. We have a responsibility to make sure under federal law that it remains confidential."

In the announcement on its web site, NPDB says that it will decide whether to reinstate the public access web page once protection of confidential information is ensured. Healthcare organizations using the NPDB for credentialing and privileging purposes still have full access to the data bank.