Standard of Care

Abstract

Standard of care refers to those practices, procedures and quality of treatments that a patient should be accorded and a health care provider is obligated to make available. The phrase standard of care also refers to the evaluation of a provider’s actions compared to what should have been done in a given situation. As medicine evolves, our knowledge increases and we modify our recommendations and treatment offerings to incorporate and improve our care of patients. As a result, the standard of care is not fixed, but instead, can change rapidly. Health care providers are obligated to stay current and continue to educate themselves on these changing standards. This obligation is often expressed in terms of continued education requirements, certifications, and practice guidelines.