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When using a Directory, whether it is online, or in the form of a Telephone Directory or Local Business Directory, it is important to understand the difference between a Directory and a Referral Service.
A Directory is simply a list of professionals or businesses, and no recommendations or guarantees are made regarding the quality of service you might expect from any of the professionals or businesses listed. The
Telephone Yellow Pages is a common and well known example of a Directory. Every business is listed for free, and some businesses pay an advertising fee for a larger listing or display ad. Whether the listing
is free or paid, no recommendations are expressed or implied, regarding the quality of services provided.
A Referral Service is a screening service, and a recommendation is being made, with at least some endorsement of the professionals or businesses listed in the service. Usually, a Referral Service will require a
professional or a business to meet some quality criteria before they are acceped into the Referral Service.
This might include a specific number of years of experience, passing a special test or training program not required by everyone in the profession or business, or an absence of consumer complaints about the professional or business. The National Register of Health Service Providers is a good example, or the various Board Certifications available in Medicine, which all require passing an examination, in addition to basic licensing as a healthcare professional. A Referral Service does not list everyone who requests admission to the service.
NJ Health Online Professional Healthcare Directories are directories, not referral services. We do not verify the license of anyone listed, and we know nothing of their professional background, other than what they have told us. Therefore, we request that you please use the directories as you would a telephone directory, to locate professionals in your community. Once you locate a professional, please investigate their background to insure that they are licensed, and that they do not have a history of complaints or disciplinary problems with their professional licensing board.
To assist you in checking the backgound of healthcare professionals, we provide links and contact information for the professional healthcare licensing boards in New Jersey:
Board of Medical Examiners - This board licenses and regulates most of the medical professions in New Jersey. The board licenses medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, podiatrists, and bio-analytical laboratory directors. Inquiries or complaints for these professions can be forwarded to Mr. William Roeder, Executive Director, Board of Medical Examiners, P.O. Box 183, Trenton, NJ 08625-0183, (609) 826-7100. Inquiries or complaints about physician assistants can be forwarded to Ms. Dorcas O'Neal, Executive Director, Physician Assistant Advisory Committee, P.O. Box 45035, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6580.
Board of Psychological Examiners - This board licenses and regulates psychologists in New Jersey. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Mr. Paul Brush, Executive Director, Board of Psychological Examiners, P.O. Box 45017, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6470.
Board of Chiropractic Examiners - This board licenses and regulates chiropractors in New Jersey. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Mr. Kevin Earle, Executive Director, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, P.O. Box 45004, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6395.
Board of Dentistry - This board licenses and regulates dentistry and its related professions in New Jersey. The board licenses dentists, registered dental assistants, limited registered dental assistants, dental hygienists, teachers, interns, and residents studying dentistry. The board also issues the following permits: perenteral conscious sedation, general anesthesia, and specialty (advertisements). Inquiries or complaints about dentists and other licensees overseen by this board can be forwarded to Mr. Kevin Earle, Executive Director, Board of Dentistry, P.O. Box 45005, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6405.
Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners - This board licenses and regulates marriage and family therapists in New Jersey. The Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee, which regulates the practice of alcohol and drug counseling in New Jersey, and the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, which regulates the practice of both professional counseling and rehabilitation counseling in this State, also come under the supervision of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Mr. Dennis Gonzalez, Executive Director, Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, P.O. Box 45007, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6415 or (973) 504-6582.
Board of Optometrists - This board regulates optometry in New Jersey. Optometrists have the authority to prescribe corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses. The board licenses optometrists and preceptors and certifies those who may utilize therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Ms. Susan Gartland, Executive Director, Board of Optometrists, P.O. Box 45012, Newark, NJ 07101,(973) 504-6440.
Board of Physical Therapy - This board is responsible for the regulation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in New Jersey. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Ms. Susan Gartland, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy, P.O. Box 45014, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6455.
Board of Social Work Examiners - This board licenses and regulates social workers in New Jersey. More specifically, the board licenses certified social workers; licensed social workers; and licensed clinical social workers. Inquiries or complaints can be forwarded to Ms. Leslie Aronson, Executive Director, Board of Social Work Examiners, P.O. Box 45033, Newark, NJ 07101, (973) 504-6495.
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