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Tip of the week: Create communication links between the governing board and MEC

Medical Staff Leader Connection, September 2, 2010

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The Joint Commission requires the medical executive committee (MEC) to make recommendations to the governing board regarding:

• The structure of the medical staff
• The mechanism used to review credentials for medical staff membership and clinical privileges, as well as the mechanism for terminating membership or privileges
• Recommendations of practitioners for medical staff appointment and privileges
• Participation of physicians in medical staff and hospital-wide quality improvement programs
• Systems for membership and termination of membership to the medical staff
• The fair-hearing process for medical staff members
   

Therefore, the MEC and governing board must cooperate to help the medical staff and hospital function effectively together. Some hospitals help foster communication and collaboration by having physicians join the board or board subcommittees. Other hospitals organize routine joint conference committees composed of both MEC and board members. Still others appoint board members and administrators to key medical staff committees, such as the credentials or QI committee, as observing members. The key point is that there is regular productive interaction and communication between the MEC and the governing board.

This week’s tip is from The Medical Executive Committee Handbook, Third Edition, by Mary J. Hoppa, MD, MBA, CMSL.

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