Licensing Agency in New Jersey
In my state, New Jersey, the licensing agency responsible for healthcare services is the State Board of Medical Examiners. The State Board of Medical Examiners’ primary goal and role is to safeguard the general population’s well-being, security, and health (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.a). The Board fulfills its duty by issuing licenses to medical professionals, passing policies, establishing standards of care, looking into complaints of physician misconduct, and punishing those who disobey rules (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.a). This assures the public that doctors are qualified, skilled, and trustworthy.
Policy Creation and Economic Impact
The Board is in charge of overseeing a variety of allied health providers along with physicians (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.a). After examining its main responsibilities and the overall goal, it is evident that the Board can have a significant influence on healthcare economics. Regulating the number of licensed medical professionals on the Board can affect the supply and demand of healthcare services. With many healthcare practitioners having licenses, there can be bigger competition and a better quality of treatment.
Board Composition and Community Representation
In terms of the members of the Board, there are nineteen members, with one membership position vacant for the Executive Dept. Designee. The State Board of Medical Examiners comprises members from diverse backgrounds, including medical practitioners, patient advocates, and industry experts (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.b). Based on the diversity of the Board, the current composition is a fair representation of the community it is supposed to serve.
Out of nineteen members, approximately half of the members are women (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.b). There are additional members who are people of color, which is additionally beneficial for community representation (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.b). As for consumer representation, there are three public members who are responsible for advocating for consumers’ needs (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, n.d.b). Therefore, the input of every member of the Board is crucial.
Economic Challenges and Incentives in Organizational Models
Lastly, economic incentives and challenges for the Board must be addressed. Although both offer medical treatment, private healthcare organizations are driven by profit and non-profit organizations, such as the State Board of Medical Examiners, are focused on the services provided to the community. As a result, the Board has to consider such differences when creating policies for local communities and ensuring that regulations are working effectively.
References
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. (n.d.a). About the Board. Web.
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. (n.d.b). Board members. Web.