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The knee bone is connected to the hip bone: Understanding the structure of the medical staff services department to make accurate diagnoses

Medical Staff Leader Connection, December 31, 2009

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As an MSP, I’m often asked to evaluate and diagnose problems that prevent the medical staff services department (MSSD) from operating at its best. I tend to think of the MSSD as the skeletal system that keeps the medical staff and hospital upright and mobile. As such, it is vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies that put it at risk for fracture.

In some circumstances, systems and processes (the bones) are broken and require MSPs to identify where the break is and set it. They do this by looking at the medical staff at its most basic level: What functions are required of the MSSD, who is responsible for performing them, and what is the best way to perform them? Like an X-ray, this basic analysis provides an overview of the MSSD’s skeletal system.

Through this analysis, you may find that your MSSD is in need of a calcium and vitamin D supplement. Consider this supplement strong data entry and file maintenance, continued learning, research into the federal and state laws and accreditation requirements, and a robust credentialing and privileging process. If these things are done well, they ensure a MSSD that can take the occasional fall or bump without breaking a bone.

When in doubt about the health of your MSSD, I recommend taking a step back to X-ray how the office functions, how the functions are being performed, and if those procedures are effective. If you find that your office needs a boost of calcium and vitamin D, review the medical staff bylaws to determine if the processes in place are being performed correctly or if they need to be updated. For overall, long term health, continuously monitor state laws and regulatory standards and call the team together frequently to brainstorm new ways to strengthen the existing processes. And of utmost importance, remember that when you jar your funny bone, keep your humerus!

Kathleen Tafel is manager of medical staff services at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburg, PA. She can be reached at kathy.tafel@stclair.org.

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