Scope of Practice
Scope of practice refers to the defined range of responsibilities and activities that professionals, particularly in health care, are legally permitted to perform. This concept is critical in ensuring that individuals practice within their level of training and expertise, thus safeguarding public health and safety. Primarily governed by state laws, scope of practice regulations outline which professions can offer specific services, the settings appropriate for these services, and the limitations of professional activities. For instance, it delineates the roles of physicians, nurses, dental hygienists, and other healthcare workers, preventing professionals from performing tasks that exceed their qualifications.
Each state has dedicated licensing boards that create and regulate these statutes, comprised of both industry professionals and public representatives. This local governance means that scope of practice laws can vary significantly between states, affecting how health care is delivered. By establishing clear boundaries, scope of practice laws not only protect the public but also help maintain the integrity of various professions within the healthcare system. Understanding these regulations can aid individuals in navigating healthcare services and ensuring they receive care from appropriately qualified professionals.
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Scope of Practice
Scope of practice refers to the range of responsibilities and functions that a particular group of professionals can undertake in the course of their work. Although the term scope of practice can be used in reference to almost any profession, it is most often used in discussions of health care.
For health-care professionals, scope of practice is addressed mainly by law at the state level. These laws are designed by the state in question and create the framework within which the medical services in the state are delivered to the public. These laws determine the professions that are allowed to offer particular services, the settings in which these services can be provided, and the boundaries of professional activities offered by professionals.
Overview
Scope of practice controls what professionals—such as physicians and therapists—are allowed to do, and sets parameters that prevent health-care workers from engaging in activities that are considered beyond their knowledge and scope. For example, scope of practice prevents nurses from performing the work of physicians, dental hygienists from doing the work of dentists, psychiatrists from doing the work of general internists, and so on.
Scope of practices control the delivery of medical services and provide a layer of protection to the public, whose members may not understand the education, professional credentialing, and experience required to perform in a particular discipline. The legal guidelines developed by states are often referred to as practice acts.
Development
Although some exceptions exist, state governments are responsible for developing and managing the scope of practice statutes that apply within their boundaries. Dedicated licensing boards are responsible for developing these statutes. These boards are comprised of both members of the profession in question and representatives of the public. The state governor typically appoints licensing board members, and individuals are generally chosen based on their understanding of the education, professional credentialing, and experience needed to offer trustworthy services in a particular discipline.
In addition to creating and enforcing practice acts, licensing boards set the rules and policies that concretely define the behavior of health-care professionals. These rules and policies communicate the intentions of the practice acts and outline what members of the profession are allowed to do.
Because this process is individualized by state, laws and regulations may vary from one state to another. For example, some states may give more latitude to individual professionals, while others may more closely manage their services.
Bibliography
Christian, Sharon, Catherine Dower. "Scope of Practice Laws in Health Care: Exploring New Approaches for California." Chcf.org. California Healthcare Foundation. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. http://www.chcf.org/publications/2008/03/scope-of-practice-laws-in-health-care-exploring-new-approaches-for-california
McCarty, Michael N., Esq. "The Lawful Scope of Practice of Medical Assistants: 2012 Update." AMT Events. American Medical Technologists. June 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. http://www.americanmedtech.org/portals/0/pdf/news/scopeofpracticearticle‗june%202012.pdf
White, Debbie, et al. "Nursing Scope of Practice: Descriptions and Challenges." Nursing Leadership 21, no. 1: 2008. Ontario Nurses' Association. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. http://local70.ona.org/documents/File/pdf/NursingScopeofPractice.pdf
"Why Consumers Need to be Involved in Scope of Practice Reform." NCSBN.org. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. https://www.ncsbn.org/Why‗consumers‗need‗to‗be‗involved.pdf