Governor Announces Department of Professional Regulations Wins National E-Government Technology Award

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today congratulated the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDPR) on winning a national technology award from the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) for the agency's innovative e-batch License Renewal program. Illinois competed against approximately 30 other nominations from several states for the award, which was announced at NASCA's annual conference.

"Illinois led the nation in developing this innovative program which allows licensed professionals--including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and engineers--to renew their licenses through their place of employment," Ryan said. "Receiving this recognition demonstrates we are making progress in utilizing modern technology to better serve the public and shows how an alliance between the business community and state government can help achieve that goal."

The annual NASCA Outstanding Program Awards recognize state agencies, organizations or individuals that have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in innovation, creativity, advanced knowledge and efficiency in state government.

With Illinois' e-batch, participating businesses are provided access to IDPR's database of licensed professionals via the Internet. The employer collects the renewal forms and fees of the licensees they employ, then enters the license and personal identification numbers of those individuals into the database. The funds collected by the employer to cover the renewal fees are electronically transferred to the State, and the renewed licenses are printed and mailed in a few days.

Sixty Illinois hospitals helped to pilot the e-batch program during the 2000 renewal of registered nurses. IDPR's partnership with the hospitals resulted in 3,500 licenses being renewed quickly and securely.

Recently, more than 30 pharmacies participated in e-batch during the renewal of pharmacy technicians. An impressive 30 percent of pharmacy technician licenses were renewed through the participating pharmacies, including several national chains - Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Osco - who have praised the customer service offered by e-batch.

Businesses that employ licensed professionals can contact the Department of Professional Regulation at 217-785-2137 for information on how to participate in e-batch.