Requirements relating to professional conduct - R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 5-37-9.1

The Rhode Island board of medical licensure and discipline (“board”) must maintain confidential files on physicians that contain the following information: (1) malpractice cases against a physician; (2) malpractices cases against a physician that reached a resolution (e.g. dismissal, settlement, adverse award); (3) instances in which a physician was disciplined by a hospital or professional society or resigned due to unprofessional conduct; (4) a report that the physician was found guilty of a felony; (5) reports from professional review organizations and third party health insurers regarding the sanctioning of a physician; (6) annual hospital and HMO reports of medical staff appointments; and (7) information from the “federation of state medical boards and the American Medical Association.”

The board may use these record “to precipitate or aid in their investigations.” Board records are confidential, but may be accessed by (1) health care facilities and HMOs in relation to the granting of staff privileges; (2) individual physicians; and (3) as necessary to create the § 5-37-9.2 physician profiles.