RESOLUTION NO. 107
Presented by Senator Demuzio

WHEREAS, the Department of Professional Regulation has established its mission to serve, safeguard and promote the public welfare by ensuring that qualifications and standards for professional practices are properly determined and appropriately applied; WHEREAS, among the professions regulated by the Department is physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; WHEREAS, in the most recent audit of the Department, testing of the Department's regulation of physicians noted some deficiencies in the timeliness and documentation of investigative and prosecutorial duties; WHEREAS, between calendar years 1991 to 1993, the number of complaints against physicians filed with the Department increased by 7%, whereas the number of disciplinary actions against physicians signed into effect by the Department during that time frame decreased by 8%; WHEREAS, according to published reports, the recent trend nationally is an increase of 38% in disciplinary actions taken against physicians; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMISSION that the Auditor General be directed to conduct a program audit of the Department of Professional Regulation's effectiveness in investigating complaints against physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; and be it further RESOLVED, that this program audit include, but not be limited to, the following determinations;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all State and other entities which may have information relevant to this audit shall cooperate fully and promptly with the Office of the Auditor General in the conduct of this audit; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations upon completion to the Legislative Audit Commission, the Governor and members of the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois State Auditing Act.
Adopted this 5th day of February, 1996.