| Scottsdale,
Ariz. -- Finding
a licensed healthcare practitioner in Arizona is easier
than ever. “Docfinder” at http://docfinder.state.az.us,
is the newly released website providing one-stop public
access to important healthcare practitioner information.
Unlike services offered by private companies, it is
also free of charge. The site, developed by the Arizona
Medical Board, contains licensee profiles for allopathic
physicians (MDs), osteopathic physicians (DOs), dentists,
optometrists, naturopathic physicians, and physician
assistants.
“This
is an example of 90/10 agencies working together to
do what we were intended to do,” said Arizona
Medical Board Executive Director Barry A. Cassidy,
Ph.D., P.A.-C.
Arizona’s
90/10 agencies consist of professional licensing agencies
that operate on a budget brought in solely through
licensing fees. Unlike general funded agencies, the
taxpayers do not support 90/10 agencies. In fact,
10% of all fees brought in by these agencies are directed
to the State’s general fund.
“The
autonomy given to professional licensing agencies
like the Arizona Medical Board provides greater leeway
to provide innovative services to the public,”
said Cassidy. In fact, the website which contains
data provided by the other state agencies has negligible
developmental and maintenance costs. Agency officials
estimate that using existing technology platforms,
it took two days to develop the site and format practitioner
data.
"The
Osteopathic Board is pleased to be part of this collaborative
effort between boards that regulate the health professionals
in Arizona,” said Arizona Board of Osteopathic
Examiners in Medicine and Surgery Executive Director
Elaine Le Tarte. “With "Docfinder,"
knowing the name of your doctor is all you need to
access information. "Docfinder" makes good
on the promise of technology to make government transparent.
It eliminates what had been the frustrating first
step – having to find which board regulated
your doctor – and delivers you right to the
information you want."
In addition
to the healthcare practitioners listed on http://docfinder.state.az.us,
the site is also open to other healthcare professional
licensing agencies that want to participate. “It’s
as simple as providing us with your data,” said
Cassidy. “We do the rest.”
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