Message from the Board President, Jean Rawlings Sumner, MD
Welcome to the website for the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners (CSBME), an independent agency of the State of Georgia. Informally, we are known as the Georgia Medical Board, is a volunteer group appointed by the Governor, composed of twelve physicians (two osteopathic, ten M.D.) one physician’s assistant ex-officio member, and one non-medical consumer member of the public. Our Board meetings are held monthly and are open in many sections to the public.
Our mission is the continuance and advancement of high-quality health care in Georgia. We are responsible for the licensing of over 27,000 physicians, 1,350 temporary resident physicians, 2,200 physician assistants, 4,200 respiratory therapists, 101 perfusionists 22 physician volunteers in medicine, 129 acupuncturists (including auricular detoxification specialists), prosthetists & orthotists.
The Board requires these health care providers to adhere to a strict code of moral and ethical conduct. We review all complaints of professional misconduct, moral turpitude and practice irregularity, including inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances. Information may be forwarded from a consumer, a hospital, a government agency, a fellow physician or healthcare worker or gleaned from malpractice settlements. After a rigorous and stringent investigation and analysis, the case is brought before the Board. Disciplinary action, if warranted, may range from a fine to revoking a practitioner’s license.
The Georgia Medical Board’s goal is to ensure that the consumer obtains quality in healthcare by obtaining the information they need to make informed and reasonable choices when selecting a healthcare practitioner. Three years ago, we launched the Physician Profile Database. This is free of charge to all Georgians who may access current information on a practitioner’s license, location, malpractice judgments and payments. In addition to the tools for consumers, we also make available a variety of information for the practitioner. Our site contains information on continuing education and on-line access for license renewal. We have an outstanding staff to assist you.