1. Medical Practice Acts and State Boards
Lesson 2:1

2. Medical Practice Acts
Define what is meant by ‘practice medicine’ in each state.
Explain requirements and methods for licensure.
Provide for the establishment of medical licensing boards.
Establish grounds for suspension or revocation of license.
Give conditions for license renewal.

3. Medical practice acts
Were first passed in colonial times, but were repealed in the 1800s, when citizens decided that the US Constitution gave anyone the right to practice medicine. Quackery became rampant, and for the protection of the public, medical practice acts were reenacted.

4. Each state’s medical practice acts also mandate the establishment of medical boards.
Medical boards purpose is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of health care consumers through proper licensing and regulation of physicians and, in some jurisdictions, other HCP.

5. Through licensing, each state medical board ensure that all health care practitioners who work in areas for which licensing is required have adequate and appropriate education and training and that they follow high standards of professional conduct while caring for patients.

6. Applicants for a license must generally:
Provide proof of education and training.
Provide details about work history.
Pass an examination designed to assess their knowledge and their ability to apply that knowledge and other concepts and principles important to ensure safe and effective patient care.
Reveal info. About past medical history (including alcohol and/or drug abuse), arrests, and convictions.

7. Each state’s medical practice acts also define unprofessional conduct for medical professionals. Laws vary from state to state.

8. Examples of unprofessional conduct include:
Physical abuse of patient.
Inadequate record keeping.
Failure to recognize or act on common symptoms.
The prescription of drugs in excessive amounts or without legitimate reason.
Impaired ability to practice due to addiction or physical or mental illness.
Failure to meet continuing education requirements.
The performance of duties beyond the scope of a license.
Dishonesty
Conviction of a felony.
The delegation of the practice of medicine to an unlicensed individual.

9. A minor disagreement and poor customer service do not fall under the heading of misconduct.

10. Tonight’s Homework
Answer questions from your packet on page 31. (Yes, write out the question.)