Representatives of state boards gather to examine health care issues

Representatives of the state boards that oversee licensing of the nation's physicians, nurses and pharmacists have gathered in Washington, D.C. this week for the first-ever Tri-Regulator Symposium, an event that will examine a variety of health care issues. The symposium began on October 17 and continues October 18 at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center Hotel.

With the theme, "Protecting Patients and the Public: A Heritage of Excellence," the symposium is being hosted by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The member licensing-boards of the three organizations regulate a combined five million physicians, pharmacists and nurses in the United States.

Former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, PhD, and U.S. Health Resources and Services Administrator Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, are among the keynote speakers featured during the event - a gathering of leaders from the nation's health care regulatory community.

During the two-day symposium, a diverse group of speakers and panelists have been assembled to discuss issues of importance to the regulatory community, ranging from the U.S. opioid abuse crisis and workforce shortages to the growing use of social media by physicians and nurses. Speakers are also addressing trends in assessing the competency and skills of physicians, nurses and pharmacists.

A special session on October 17 explored the history of the FSMB, which is celebrating its Centennial in 2012. The symposium is a historic first assembly of members of state boards of medicine, nursing and pharmacy and reflects the three hosting organizations' shared commitment to protecting and promoting public health.

"Health care is a critical aspect of day-to-day life and one of the single most important challenges facing all Americans," said FSMB President and CEO Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, FACP. "Regulating health care practitioners to ensure that patients receive competent and quality care is the highest priority for state boards of nursing, medicine, and pharmacy."

"Mindful of both the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving health care environment, promoting patient safety and public protection through regulatory excellence remains paramount to boards of nursing in the United States," said NCSBN CEO Kathy Apple, MS, RN, FAAN.

"NABP is honored to participate in this first, historic symposium, bringing together the boards of pharmacy, nursing and medicine," said NABP Executive Director/Secretary Carmen A. Catizone, MS, RPh, DPh. "It is the first step towards a necessary, innovative, collaborative approach to health care regulation by ensuring patients receive the best care possible from their doctor, nurse or pharmacist."