Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:Introduction to Health Care and Public Health in the U.S.
Unit:Regulating Health Care
Lecture:Legal Aspects of Medicine
Slide content:State Medical Practice Acts Define the practice of medicine Regulate how medicine will be practiced within the state Establish medical board Set standards Create process Investigate complaints 7
Slide notes:Every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and every U.S. territory has its own medical practice act. Each of these acts establishes a state medical board. These boards license physicians and discipline those physicians who break the law. In addition, they investigate complaints about physicians who may be unethical or incompetent. The organization and the authority of state medical boards vary. In some states, the boards are independent and have authority over all licensing and disciplinary matters. In other states, the board is part of another organization, such as the state department of health. State medical boards usually include volunteer physicians and members of the public. 7