How Data and Evidence Can (and Should!) Inform Scope of Practice
April 9, 2018
Erin Fraher, PhD, MPP; Julie Spero, MSPH; Ryan Kandrack, BS; Katie Gaul, MA
Presentation to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Legislative Health Policy Fellows
Presentation Overview
- Our frame: objective, “data agitating” workforce researchers
- Scope of practice (SOP) battles are emerging with increased frequency due to concerns about shortages, rising health care costs and access to care issues
- Health professional regulation is a state function. This results in lots of variation between states
- Strong stakeholder groups are involved in SOP battles, often focused on professional self-interest, not patients’ interests
- A lack of evidence about SOP changes makes evaluation difficult
- Health care is changing quickly, regulation needs to adapt
- The way forward for North Carolina is more evidence-based SOP and regulation