Identify regulatory agencies that regulate health and the health care system within the US, create a table listing your 5 regulatory agencies and address the following:
- Describe the agency, level of regulatory authority (local, state, federal), scope of regulatory authority, and role within the US healthcare system.
- Address relevance of the organization or the organization’s authority to the APRN/DNP graduate.
- Describe relevance to specialty area, area of practice, or setting of practice. For an example, mental health.
Submission Requirements:
- In the table, write the 3 criteria above and respond to them.
- The table is to be clear and concise and students will lose points for improper grammar, punctuation and misspelling.
- The table is to be complete and thorough. It should include all items indicated in the assignment.
- Incorporate at least 3 current (published within last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The regulatory agencies that oversee the healthcare system play an integral role in upholding the quality and standards of healthcare services provided within the United States. As a medical professor, it is pertinent to ensure that medical college students are familiar with these agencies and their regulatory authorities. This response will identify five regulatory agencies that regulate health and healthcare within the US.
Answer:
The table below presents five regulatory agencies that regulate health and healthcare in the US, their level of regulatory authority, their scope of regulatory authority, and their role within the healthcare system in the US.
| Regulatory Agency | Level of Regulatory Authority | Scope of Regulatory Authority | Role within the US Healthcare System |
| — | — | — | — |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Federal | Regulate the safety and efficacy of food and drugs | Monitor and approve new drugs, medical devices, and food products |
| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) | Federal | Administer Medicare and Medicaid programs | Manage healthcare programs for low-income individuals, seniors and people with disabilities |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Federal | Ensure the safety of employees in the workplace | Develop and enforce safety standards in the workplace |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Federal | Conduct biomedical research | Promote medical research to improve healthcare |
| The Joint Commission | Non-profit | Develop healthcare standards | Accredit and certify healthcare organizations |
The relevance of these regulatory agencies to APRN/DNP graduates varies based on their area of specialty or practice. For instance, the FDA is relevant to APRNs/DNPs working in pharmaceuticals or medical device development, while CMS is relevant to APRNs/DNPs in the gerontology field. OSHA is relevant to APRNs/DNPs seeking to provide safe and healthy work environments for their patients, while the NIH is relevant to APRNs/DNPs conducting research. The Joint Commission is relevant to all APRNs/DNPs, as it accredits and certifies healthcare organizations.
Incorporating scholarly articles or primary legal sources is critical to ensuring that information provided is up to date and accurate. Recent articles and legal sources offer a more comprehensive understanding of regulations and how they impact healthcare.