QUESTION 1 BELOW IS NATIONWIDE (Any answer specific to any state will be helpful.)
QUESTION 2 BELOW IS FOR CALIFORNIA
I am looking for online databases that provide detailed background information to the general public on healthcare professionals. And, I am looking for more than simply licensing status through the local licensing board. Some licensing boards are helpful. Others are not. It appears that the National Practitioner's Database, which would likely be an ideal resource, is not available to the public.
QUESTION 1: Am I missing a better way to research this info, than to simply plow through one state at a time, and weed through countless search results?
Note that some state resources do not appear adequate. When doing a physician lookup, the Web site for the California Medical Board states this: “Under California law, the following information is confidential and NOT public and would NOT appear on a record if applicable to the physician:
o Complaints made to the Medical Board of California
o Investigations conducted by the Medical Board of California
o Misdemeanor convictions reported to the Medical Board of California prior to January 1, 2007; and conviction of a misdemeanor after January 1, 2007 that did not result in a disciplinary action or an accusation being filed by the Board.
o Some medical malpractice information, e.g., pending or dismissed cases. This information may be available at the local county courthouse in the "Civil Index." Click here for California Superior Court contact information.”
Doesn’t that (above) defeat the whole purpose of looking up a physician's record to begin with?
QUESTION: According to the above, would it be illegal, in California, for a patient to publicly reveal having complained to the medical board about a certain provider? Would it be illegal for a Web site to report consumer/patient complaints that name the provider?
Whether you provide info or links specific to one state, or you point me to resources where I may research more efficiently, I thank you for your response!

