Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Social Control, Formal

Formal social control in healthcare refers to the use of official or legal means to regulate behavior within the healthcare system. This can include:

Laws and regulations: such as laws that require healthcare providers to meet certain standards of care, report infectious diseases, and protect patient confidentiality.

Professional licensing and certification: such as the licensing of physicians and nurses and certification of healthcare facilities, which are designed to ensure that healthcare providers are qualified to perform their duties.

Accreditation: such as the Joint Commission and other accrediting bodies that assess and approve healthcare facilities to ensure that they meet certain standards of quality and patient safety.

Government oversight: such as federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which regulate the healthcare industry and enforce compliance with laws and regulations.

Litigation: such as medical malpractice lawsuits, which can result in fines or penalties for healthcare providers who fail to meet standards of care.

The purpose of formal social control in healthcare is to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care, and that healthcare providers act in an ethical and responsible manner. This helps to promote public trust in the healthcare system and to ensure that healthcare resources are used effectively and efficiently.