• Legal and Regulatory Issues

  • How can regulatory and other oversight processes be coordinated to reinforce the principles of patient-centeredness, evidence-based practice, and systems thinking? What specific legal and regulatory constraints inhibit changes in processes of care? Where are different types of regulations needed? In what areas can existing regulations be streamlined or reduced?

  • How can greater coordination among licensing boards within an individual state and across states be facilitated? How can the continuing competence of health professionals be assessed and ensured?

  • Can liability reform support the principles of patient-centeredness, evidence-based practice, and systems thinking? Are alternative models, such as enterprise liability, desirable?

  • What is the link between regulation of health professions and quality of care?

  • What are the appropriate links among licensure, accountability, and liability?

• Workforce Supply

  • Given a greater understanding of the previous issues (e.g., what training is provided, the need for greater flexibility in deploying human resources, and alternative approaches to accountability), what are the implications for the needed supply and mix of health professionals?

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