Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: April 4, 2007

Health Department's On-Line License Renewal System a Statewide Success

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announced today it has attained the highest usage rate of any Rhode Island government agency that has implemented on-line management options for state-issued professional licenses. HEALTH is the latest state agency to offer such "e-licensing" options, joining the Departments of Business Regulation, and Labor and Training. HEALTH began offering e-licensing services for license renewals to physicians and pharmacists in August 2006 with an expansion for nurses' licenses in January of this year. To date, these latest online offerings have been enthusiastically embraced by the healthcare provider community, with over 90% of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses renewing their licenses on line. This rate greatly exceeds the statewide average for e-licensing usage, thanks in part to past lessons learned in communicating the electronic option, and the medical profession's increasing use of the Internet.

This modern system provides a number of benefits to both licensees and the state. It is faster-licensees can see their renewed licenses on HEALTH's license verification site within hours of renewing, as opposed to the 2-3 weeks required for processing paper renewals. There is less room for error, as licensees can update their own information, such as address and education status. E-licensing cuts down on staff time and delays to the licensee due to over- or underpayment, bank processing time, and return of unsigned or incomplete paper forms. The system also provides checks and balances that were not previously built into the system. "This new system makes the entire process more efficient and effective for licensed health professionals and for Department staff", said Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. "This success never would have been possible without the feedback we received from licensed health professionals about the license renewal process and the efforts of the IT and Licensing Team."

The system also provides opportunities that were not previously built into the system. For example, when nurses renewed their licenses earlier this year, the Health Department was able to collect workforce data through an optional on-line survey. Questions asked included, what settings nurses work in; how many hours they work each week; and whether they are in roles providing direct patient care. This information is essential as nursing and health care leaders create solutions to the nursing shortage.

Another advantage of the e-licensing process is it provides all health care professionals the opportunity to volunteer in the event of a natural disaster or other public health emergency. The system has direct links to the three major health care professional volunteer entities in Rhode Island: the RI Disaster Medical Assistance Team (RI-DMAT), RI Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and RI Responds, which is a new system to allow health care professionals to indicate interest in assisting during a major event without requirements for training.

Statewide e-licensing coordination has been overseen by the Governor's Fiscal Fitness Program, which identified such online options as part of its review of seeking efficiencies and improved customer service within executive branch agencies. The implementation of e-licensing at each agency thus far has exceeding expectations.

Over the next couple of years, HEALTH will offer all health professions these e-licensing options. Beginning this month, social workers will be able to renew their licenses on-line, with other professional licenses to follow.