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;

The Department's timeliness in initiating, carrying out and
completing investigations; 

The adequacy of the Department's investigatory procedures,
including the identification and gathering of appropriate evidence;

The Department's procedures for determining the need for,
and nature of, any recommended disciplinary actions; and 

The Department's process for ensuring that its recommended
disciplinary actions are implemented and that any specified corrective
steps are instituted; and 

	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.