美國醫療機構評鑑聯合會(TJC)對醫師的定義

根據美國醫療機構評鑑聯合會 ( The Joint Commission ) _註1公布最新的 "Physician (醫師)" 定義。

先前版本對於醫師的兩項定義如下:
(1) a doctor of medicine or osteopathy (西醫或骨病醫師) and (2) as defined by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS ) in section 482.12 (c) (1) of the Hospital Conditions of Participation (醫療與醫療輔助中心法規 482.12 (c) (1)當中醫院條件參予者之定義)

舊版所指的 CMS section 482.12 (c) (1)原文如下:

(1) Every Medicare patient is under the care of:

(i) A doctor of medicine or osteopathy ( This provision is not to be construed to limit the authority of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy to delegate tasks to other qualified health care personnel to the extent recognized under State law or a State's regulatory mechanism.);

(ii) A doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine who is legally authorized to practice dentistry by the State and who is acting within the scope of his or her license;

(iii) A doctor of podiatric medicine, but only with respect to functions which he or she is legally authorized by the State to perform;

(iv) A doctor of optometry who is legally authorized to practice optometry by the State in which he or she practices;

(v) A chiropractor who is licensed by the State or legally authorized to perform the services of a chiropractor, but only with respect to treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by x-ray to exist; and

(vi) A clinical psychologist as defined in §410.71 of this chapter, but only with respect to clinical psychologist services as defined in §410.71 of this chapter and only to the extent permitted by State law.

新版的定義直接刪除第一條並將第二條以社會保障法 1861 (r) 加以取代。新的定義更能明確清楚的反應CMS對於醫師的定義。新舊版本不同點在於 "臨床心理學家" 不列於 "醫師" 的定義之下。

新版定義下列五種專業為醫師:

● Doctor of medicine or osteopathy
● Doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine
● Doctor of podiatric medicine
● Doctor of optometry
● Chiropractor

新版定義於 2009 年七月一日生效，適用於各級醫療院所。

註1 : The Joint Commission ( TJC ) 的前身為 Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations ( JCAHO )。是在美國的一個非營利組織，認證超過 19,000 美國醫療照護組織與計畫。美國大多數的州政府都以 TJC 認證的標準作為提供醫療補助保險的指標依據。