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Medical Staff Leader Connection

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Medical Staff Leader Connection

Issue 47, November 18, 2009

• Credentialing monthly: What is the role of the credentials committee in addressing unprofessional conduct?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: At academic medical centers, who appoints the department chairs?

  In some academic medical centers, the chair of the medical staff department also serves as the...

• MSP tip of the week: Stay on top of legal issues

  Whether you’re responsible for coordinating the peer review committee or perform...

• This month in Medical Staff Briefing

  Don’t forget to check your mailbox (electronic or otherwise) to get the latest medical staff...

Issue 46, November 11, 2009

• Bylaws and governance monthly: Balance the value of time and money when determining medical staff leadership pay

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Poll results

  Last week, we asked readers whether their organizations had a disruptive/impaired physician policy...

• FREE white paper: Foster a higher standard of professional conduct

  One of the most difficult challenges facing medical staff leaders is overseeing professional...

• Tip of the week: Do away with arbitrary time limits on committee appointments

  Because so much work goes into training new committee members, keep existing members as long as...

• Ask the expert: How can I ensure that the MEC is living up to the medical staff’s and hospital’s expectations?

  One of the best ways to ensure that the MEC is living up to the medical staff’s and...

• Wondering about The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium?

  If you didn’t get a chance to attend The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium in Naples...

Issue 45, November 4, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: Do you know what I know?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: Who should set physician performance targets?

  When determining what data to collect to evaluate physician competence, it is critical that the...

• Tip of the week: Train physician reviewers to do effective case reviews

  Physicians have reviewed case charts from their first days of medical school, but they are rarely...

• Do you have a disruptive/impaired physician policy?

  HCPro wants to hear from you! Every month, we post a new interactive poll question on our Web site...

• Reader survey: Who gets to keep the medical records?

  As editor of Medical Staff Briefing and Medical Staff Leader Connection, I write frequently about...

Issue 44, October 28, 2009

• Get ready for Medical Staff Services Awareness Week!

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: When verifying an applicant's work history, how far back should the medical staff services department go?

  Each hospital must determine how far back to verify applicant’s healthcare-related...

• Tip of the week: Send physicians reminder notices to return important documentation

  MSPs often struggle to receive information—including elements of medical staff...

• In the news: Want to improve quality? Start by getting physicians involved.

  It’s no secret that physicians are increasingly disengaged from hospital happenings, and that...

Issue 43, October 21, 2009

• Ten steps to great information technology (IT) implementation

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Define hospitalists' scope of practice in job descriptions before launching a recruiting campaign

  Correct job descriptions are critical, not only to set appropriate expectations for the hospitalist...

• Ask the expert: Who should be responsible for FPPE and proctoring costs?

  In most organizations, the hospital or parent institution incurs the cost of focused professional...

• The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium is just around the corner!

  Dear readers, Don’t miss out on your opportunity to participate in The Greeley Medical Staff...

Issue 42, October 14, 2009

• The Joint Commission introduces MS.03.01.01: A tougher telemedicine standard, but only for some

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Poll results: Does your facility conduct centralized peer review?

  A recent poll on HCPro.com reveals that more hospitals conduct centralized peer review compared to...

• This month in MSB

  Don’t forget to check your mailbox (electronic or otherwise) to get the latest medical staff...

• Ask the expert: As a medical staff leader, are there any decision-making techniques I should be using during meetings?

  Meetings almost always include action items that call for group decision-making. Some action items...

• Tip of the week: Separate clinical evaluation requests from hospital affiliation verification requests

  A common mistake many medical staff services departments (MSSD) make is to combine a...

• Editor's pick: What's your credentialing software missing?

  If your medical staff office’s existing credentialing software helps you create and generate...

Issue 41, October 7, 2009

• Bylaws and governance monthly: Do you have problems getting a quorum at meetings?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Use professional reference questionnaires to make sound credentialing decisions--Free form!

  It is more important than ever to create an effective method of capturing performance data that...

• Ask the expert: What is the purpose of restrictive clauses in physician-hospital contracts?

  The purpose of restrictive clauses in physician-hospital contracts is to protect an...

• In the news: Physician executive compensation up by 12%

  Physician executive compensation rose by an average of 12%, according to 2009 Physician Executive...

• Free audio conference Oct. 27

  Join HCPro and The Greeley Company for “Managing Disruptive Physicians: Strategies to Ensure...

Issue 40, September 30, 2009

• Peer review monthly: Board certification and peer review

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: What tools are available to help an organization obtain and use perception data to evaluate physician competency?

  Perception data differ from clinical data in that it is based on how others view our performance in...

• Tip of the week: MSPs--know your audience when designing a presentation

  As an MSP, you likely present to a wide range of individuals: medical staff members, committee and...

• In the news: Outside stress factors contribute to medical errors, meditation can help

  According to a study in the Sept. 23/30 issue of JAMA, fatigue isn’t the only factor that...

• The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium is just around the corner!

  Dear readers, Don’t miss out on your opportunity to participate in The Greeley medical...

Issue 39, September 23, 2009

• The aging physician: Balancing safety, respect, and dignity

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: Should we address aging practitioners in our bylaws?

  At the age of 65, practitioners shall complete an annual examination that addresses their physical...

• Tip of the week: Develop a framework for exploring diversity-related conflicts

  Medical staff leaders need to be cognizant of diversity-related conflicts between individual...

• In the news: Hospitals not making board certification a requirement for privileges

  A new study in Archives of Surgery suggest that hospitals do not consistently require physicians to...

Issue 38, September 16, 2009

• Breakthrough performance in hand washing

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Learn to tackle low-volume provider challenges in just 90 minutes

  Having trouble gathering enough competency data on physicians who rarely darken your...

• Ask the expert: I'm new to the medical staff services department. What is the difference between laundry list privileges and core privileges?

  For many years, the standard method of privileging was referred to as “the laundry...

• In the news: Joint Commission launches Center for Transforming Healthcare to tackle patient safety issues

  The Joint Commission (formerly JACHO) last week announced the launch of the Center for Transforming...

Issue 37, September 9, 2009

• Bylaws and governance monthly: Don't wait for healthcare reform to kick in before improving medical staff processes

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: During a fair hearing, what are the hearing panel chair’s responsibilities?

  The CEO, acting for the board and after considering the recommendations of the president of the...

• Tip of the week: Require minimum ED call days

  One approach to providing adequate emergency department (ED) call coverage is to require each...

• In the news: Leadership essential to preventing medical errors, says Joint Commission

  Effective leadership can prevent medical errors, says The Joint Commission in an Aug. 27 Sentinel...

• Win two free seats at the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  Have you entered this month’s contest for two free seats at the Greeley Medical Staff...

Issue 36, September 2, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: The case of the delayed C-section-Individual vs. system issues in peer review

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Prepare a list of FAQs before distributing physician competency reports for the first time

  Putting together a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) is a useful change management strategy...

• Ask the expert: How do I keep new leaders from becoming discouraged by the potential long-term commitment?

  Encourage new leaders to experiment with short-term roles, such as committee membership or task...

• In the news: Bergstrom case forces CA to take a closer look at its peer review systems

  Legislators are considering making peer review laws uniform throughout the state rather than...

Issue 35, August 19, 2009

• Physician alignment: Challenges concerning exclusive contracts

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Letter from the editor: Take some time to rejuvenate

  Whether you took a “staycation” to tend to your garden and lose yourself in a good book...

• Ask the expert: What is the definition of a physician executive and what are his or her responsibilities?

  Physician executives have long had a role in hospital management. During the 1980s and 1990s, with...

• Tip of the week: Turn to past medical staff leaders to provide mentoring

  The pool of former medical staff leaders represents a wealth of talent and experience that should...

Issue 34, August 19, 2009

• Medical Staff Physician Leadership 2010 and beyond

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Quick poll results: 56% of medical staff services departments have three or more employees

  A quick poll on HCPro.com reveals that of 28 respondents, 56% report having three or more employees...

• Tip of the week: Get organized with the right forms for medical staff and committee meetings

  When preparing for medical staff or committee meetings, the first form you should consider...

• Ask the expert: Which individuals can recommend a bylaws amendment?

  Most medical staffs have traditionally allowed any member to suggest or submit a proposed bylaws...

• In the news: CMS issues restrictions on physicians’ handling of DMEPOS

  In addition to the Stark and anti-kickback rules that already govern physicians&rsquo...

Issue 33, August 12, 2009

• Bylaws and governance monthly: To be or not to be a medical staff member

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: What qualifications and qualities should we require of our medical staff leaders?

  Consider requiring your medical staff leaders to possess the following qualifications and qualities.

• Tip of the week: Conduct a staffing analysis to ensure your medical staff services department is allotting time wisely--Free form!

  To begin conducting a staffing analysis, download this free staffing analysis tool from...

• In the news: Premier says any hospital can achieve positive value-based purchasing results

  Although safety net hospitals (those with the highest percentage of disproportionate share...

• Win two free seats at the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  Have you entered this month’s contest for two free seats at the Greeley Medical Staff...

Issue 32, August 5, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: Do you trust your peer review committee chair?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: Should no- and low-volume providers be allowed to vote on medical staff matters?

  The associate category is a non-voting category. It usually consists of new appointees to the...

• Editor’s pick: What’s your credentialing software missing?

  If your medical staff office’s existing credentialing software helps you create and generate...

• Tip of the week: Medical staff leaders should practice interventions

  If you have a problematic doctor on staff who requires an intervention, don’t approach him or...

• In the news: PA doc justifies "unnecessary" admission

  Although the healthcare community is trying to reduce the number of admissions to cut down on...

Issue 31, July 29, 2009

• Medical staff culture: A look back at a year of new medical staff models

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Keep physicians informed of re-entry policy changes

  Medical staffs seldom have a policy in place to guide the re-entry process for physicians who have...

• Ask the expert: Are locum tenens physicians accountable for proving competency no matter how short their term?

  Joint Commission standards require that organizations have plans for evaluating the competency of...

• Editor’s pick: Greeley Medical Staff Institute early bird discount

  The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium provides best practices and tools from leading...

• In the news: Wisconsin supreme court rules that physicians must alert patients to all options

  Wisconsin’s supreme court ruled that William Brusky, MD, failed to inform a patient who he...

• What's your credentialing software missing?

  If your medical staff services department’s existing credentialing software helps you create...

Issue 30, July 22, 2009

• Medical Informatics: Order sets are a medical staff leader's best friend

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: What is the AMA doing to help physicians trying to re-enter practice after an extended leave?

  Information regarding physician reentry related to program availability, program structure, and...

• Tip of the week: Put patient safety before manners

  Credentials committees often overanalyze credentialing and privileging decisions regarding low- and...

• Editor's Pick: ED On-Call Tools and Techniques Web cast 8/5

  An ED on-call solution that balances physician, hospital, and community needs? Yes, it is possible...

• In the news: Medversant sues Morrisey Associates over credentialing patent

  Medversant Technologies LLC is taking Morrisey Associates to court over what they see as a patent...

Issue 29, July 15, 2009

• Bylaws and governance monthly: Medical staff leadership--is it limited to physicians?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Medical directors should keep track of hours to receive fair compensation

  Vast pay discrepancies for medical directorships exist depending on specialty, region, and type of...

• Ask the Expert: Are non-physicians allowed to sit on a hearing panel?

  The Health Care Quality Improvement Act allows the use of non-physicians on a hearing panel...

• Enter to win free registration to the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  We know budgets are tight, so in an effort to make the upcoming Greeley Medical Staff Institute...

• In the news: CMS officially deems Joint Commission's CAH accreditation

  Once again, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted The Joint Commission...

Issue 28, July 8, 2009

• Letter from the editor: Introducing the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  HCPro and The Greeley Company have teamed up to create the Greeley Medical Staff Institute...

• Tip of the week: Protect your facility from apparent agency claims with these best practices

  Under the apparent agency theory, a patient can sue a hospital for the negligence of a physician if...

• Ask the expert: CMS had changed its definition of "physician" to include MDs, DOs, DPMs, optometrists, and chiropractors. Does that mean we are required to include these practitioners on the medical staff?

  No, unless otherwise required by state law, says Claude (Bud) Pate, REHS, vice president of content...

• In the news: Georgia Supreme court redefines discoverability

  The Supreme Court of Georgia in June ruled that plaintiffs who bring negligent credentialing...

• Credentialing and privileging monthly: Summer number conundrums

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

Issue 27, July 1, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: Amazing Grace

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Create a policy for physician competency reports

  You’ve designed a physician reporting mechanism and are getting ready to distribute your...

• Ask the expert: How can I help medical staff leaders prepare for a Joint Commission survey?

  Try a PowerPoint presentation with a little kick, says Dana Crowell, CPMSM, director of medical...

• Save the date: Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium November 8-9 in Naples, FL

  There are few opportunities for physician leaders to come together, share ideas, and learn from...

• In the news: AHRQ posts state snapshots on quality

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently published online its 2008 State...

Issue 26, June 24, 2009

• Medical Staff Matters: Why bother with reappointment?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Tip of the week: Compare past information with present disclosures to identify red flags

  Comparing information that physicians have submitted in the past with current disclosures is one...

• Ask the expert: What do I need to include in the acknowledgement section of the medical staff credentialing application?

  A key part to any credentialing application is the attestation, acknowledgement, and release forms...

• In the news: Hospital makes physicians’ notes accessible to patients

  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is launching a one-year Open Notes campaign, which...

Issue 24, June 17, 2009

• Credentialing and privileging monthly: Alien invasion or attack of the skeptics?

  The first three weeks of each month, this weekly column from The Greeley Company will address...

• Ask the expert: What is the medical staff's role in tracking physician immunizations?

  If your organization requires documentation of TB or other immunizations, the medical staff should...

• Tip of the week: Update your emergency staffing plan to ensure adequate rest time

  During disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and tornados, your staff may be so pumped up on...

• In the news: Study on NPDB reporting sparks debate over the effectiveness of peer review

  In the June 4 issue of MS Leader Connection, we reported that hospitals aren’t reporting to...

Issue 23, June 10, 2009

• Greeley bylaws and governance monthly: Has the responsibility of medical staff leadership become too burdensome?

  With physicians working longer hours and also devoting more time for family, they don’t have...

• Tip of the week: Polish your conflict of interest policy

  By having your medical staff members fill out a conflict of interest disclosure form every year...

• Ask the expert: Why is it so difficult for hospitals to comply with EMTALA?

  EMTALA is an unfunded federal mandate that requires hospitals to provide ED on-call services...

• In the news: Grand Junction physicians put patient care over revenue, create access for community

  Physicians in Mesa County, IA may have the healthcare reform solution we’ve all been looking...

Issue 22, June 3, 2009

• Greeley Peer Review Monthly: Don't let the peer review process be held hostage by an incomplete discharge summary

  I recently attended a peer review committee meeting, during which I learned that the quality...

• Tip of the week: Account for severity and risk factors when reviewing peers

  When physicians are given feedback data regarding outcomes, a common response is “My outcomes...

• Ask the expert: Are all practitioners with temporary privileges considered locum tenens?

  Locum tenens is a Latin term for “placeholder” and is not a term that The Joint...

• Call for questions: Physician-Hospital Alignment: Practical Tools and Models in Today’s Economy audio conference (Live show on 6/16!)

  Wondering whether your facility should pursue a joint venture with several local physicians...

• In the news: Hospitals not reporting practitioners to NPDB

  Hospitals are not reporting practitioners to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) as often as...

• The MSP salary survey results are in!

  The results of our 2009 MSP Salary Survey are in! Use the data we’ve collecting to...

Issue 21, May 27, 2009

• New medical staff models: Examples from the field

  Many organizations have asked me what other organizations are trying, and more importantly...

• Tip of the week: Adjust policies to grant membership without privileges

  If your medical staff wants the option of granting physicians membership without privileges, its...

• Ask the expert: If a sponsoring physician loses privileges or resigns, do dependent APPs lose their employment?

  They could, depending on how your bylaws are constructed. First, it’s important to understand...

• Editor's pick: What's your credentialing software missing?

  If your medical staff office’s existing credentialing software helps you create and generate...

• In the news: CCHIT announces 2009-2010 standards for electronic prescribing certification

  The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has recently announced...

Issue 20, May 20, 2009

• Credentialing & privileging column: Write now or forever hold your peace

  Communicating reference information about physicians has always been a challenge for medical staff...

• Ask the expert: When credentialing physicians, how many malpractice suits are too many?

  I don’t know that there’s a number that would take care of each and every concern that...

• Tip of the week: When credentialing APPs and CAs, don't answer "who" until you've answered "what" and "how"

  As organizations consider redesigning their processes and allow advanced practice professionals...

• Editor's pick: Join HCPro for Physician-Hospital Alignment: Practical Tools and Models in Today's Economy-Now at a discounted price!

  We understand that budgets are tight, so we've dropped the price from $269 to $199!! I hope you can...

• In the news: Colorado physician's license called into question

  It seems a given that any physician needs a license to practice in each state in which he or sees...

Issue 19, May 13, 2009

• Bylaws review: Emergency privileges are not the same as disaster privileges

  When reviewing bylaws, I often see confusion regarding emergency and disaster privileges. Many...

• In the news: California Supreme Court limits the role of the hearing officer

  A recent California Supreme Court ruling limits the role of the hearing officer after a...

• Tip of the week: Update privilege delineations regularly

  For privilege delineations, it is important to ensure that all procedures listed on the delineation...

• Ask the expert: Our medical staff received a clean application that is just waiting for the medical executive committee and the board to review. Can we grant this physician temporary privileges?

  Temporary privileges may be granted for up to 120 calendar days when a practitioner applying for...

• Editor's pick: Low-volume/no-volume practitioners white paper

  A number of factors are driving physicians to focus less on practicing in the hospital and more on...

Issue 18, May 6, 2009

• Robert Marder's Peer Review Monthly: 13 Angry Men

  Some of the most dramatic movie scenes involve a jury deliberating the fate of a defendant. In...

• Tip of the week: Distribute physician feedback reports every six months

  The most practical approach is to distribute feedback reports every six months. This provides...

• Ask the expert: Where can I find physician compensation data?

  When recruiting a physician to a particular specialty, a variety of physician compensation data...

• In the news: Group purchasing organizations can save healthcare industry billions

  Group purchasing organizations (GPO) have the potential to save the United States health care...

• More news: IOM urges entities involved in research to monitor conflict of interest

  A report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that half of all medical research...

• Editor's pick: Free Greeley white paper addressing physician-hospital alignment

  What do fed-up ED on-call surgeons, disgruntled specialists, and a frustrated CEO all have in...

Issue 17, April 29, 2009

• Featured column: Tips for using outside peer reviewers

  Medical staff leaders are often daunted at the prospect of engaging and paying outside peer...

• Featured column: No Hospital for Old Men

  Health care is becoming an increasingly data driven and quality driven industry. Those of us...

• Tip of the week: Take minutes that capture the meaning of meeting conversations

  Meeting minutes must be recorded accurately because when everyone leaves at the end of the meeting...

• Ask the expert: How can physician assessment programs supplement regular peer review?

  There may be times when you might want a more in-depth scrutiny of a physician’s...

• In the news: State medical boards not disciplining doctors

  State agencies that license and discipline doctors in California and Florida are among those with...

Issue 16, April 22, 2009

• Featured column: Embrace IT to improve quality of care

  I was a good physician and was sure I could easily find “clean” records to demonstrate...

• Tip of the week: Use simple technology to improve medical staff communication

  Medical staff and hospital leaders need to communicate with multiple stakeholders: The medical...

• Ask the expert: How should we decide whether to adopt a new clinical technology?

  When attempting to determine whether to grant a physician’s request for new-technology...

• In the news: Bad behavior or an attempt to knock out the competition?

  A cardiologist is suing the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY for allegedly terminating his medical...

Issue 15, April 15, 2009

• Featured column: Credentialing and car care: Pay me now or pay me later

  Fram, an after-market automotive parts manufacturer, once made a car care commercial that made this...

• Tip of the week: Privileging criteria isn't just for new applicants

  Many of you wonder what CMS and The Joint Commission are really looking for when it comes to...

• Ask the expert: How can I accurately predict future physician staffing needs?

  Estimating future needs of the community can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. One of the...

• Editor's pick: CP+ demonstration 4/21

  If you’re struggling to create a mechanism to ensure that your organization’s...

• In the news: Joint Commission releases new scoring information

  Accreditation professionals across the country have known for months that revisions to Joint...

Issue 14, April 8, 2009

• Featured column: Use "investigation" appropriately in your bylaws

  The words you choose can make the difference between well-written bylaws that protect the medical...

• Tip of the week: Never make an improper report to the National Practitioner Data Bank

   A hospital should never make an improper report to the National Practitioner Data Bank...

• Ask the expert: What policies should I have in place for clinical observers?

  Clinical observers are a category of practitioners that organizations tend to overlook. It is...

• In the news: Santa Cruz practice optimistic about using e-mail to communicate with patients

  If you’re an e-mail junkie like me, you may have, at one point, thought, “Boy...

• Editor's pick: CP+ Webex demonstration 4/21

  Many medical staff services departments are challenged to redesign clinical privileges in all...

Issue 13, April 1, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: How are George Foreman and The Joint Commission alike?

  Many people are not aware that former heavy-weight boxing champion George Foreman has 10...

• Tip of the week: Improve physician-nurse communication with the SBAR tool

  The SBAR tool, developed by Dr. M. Leonard and colleagues, has proven to be an effective...

• Ask the expert: Do managed care organizations require that practitioners with whom they contract hold clinical privileges or membership at an accredited hospital?

  Today, many MCOs do not require practitioners to hold clinical privileges or be on the medical...

• In the news: OIG adjusts approach to self-disclosure protocol in Open Letter

  In a March 24 Open Letter to Health Care Providers, the Office of Inspector General conveys its...

• In the news: Joint Commission reduces its number of new and revised requirements

  In March, The Joint Commission and CMS slashed the number of new and revised requirements, which...

Issue 12, March 25, 2009

• Medical staff and coders need to work together to improve care

  During the past six months, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has increased its...

• Tip of the week: Extinguish medical staff office fires effectively

  When you, as a manger, find yourself repeatedly addressing the same issues, ask yourself whether...

• Ask the expert: What voting thresholds are needed for a medical staff bylaws amendment to pass?

  Medical staff voting methods are changing due to electronic ballots and no-action-required votes.

• In the news: State of Louisiana asked to pay Pou's legal fees

  A few weeks ago, MS Leader Connection urged hospitals to review or develop disaster privileges to...

• Editor's pick: Free medical staff policy: Placing the burden on the applicant

  Your medical staff should have a policy that places the burden on the applicant to prove his or her...

Issue 11, March 18, 2009

• Medical groups are helping physicians delay retirement, says AMGA

  More medical groups are offering part-time schedules or decreased responsibilities to keep veteran...

• Ask the expert: Does probation involve restricting physician's privileges?

  Do you get confused between a sanction and probation? Reprimand and warning? Greeley expert...

• Tip of the week: Don't wait for perfect physician performance data

  A lack of precision should not prevent the reasonable interpretation of physician performance data...

• In the news: Bill before Congress could ease pressure on ED physicians

  Emergency Services Act of 2009 is currently before Congress, and if passed, would ease the burden...

Issue 10, March 10, 2009

• Peer review vs. risk management review: What's the difference?

  If your hospital's risk management department defers cases to the medical staff peer review...

• Ask the expert: Where is Joint Commission standard MS.01.01.01 EP 20?

  Several readers responded to last week's "Tip of the week" wondering where they could...

• Tip of the week: Download a free white paper to learn about negotiating ED call compensation 

  What happens when a neurosurgeon is paid $2,000 to take ED call but rarely comes into the hospital...

• In the news: More advance practitioners on the horizon

  Medical organizations are increasing the number of advanced practitioners (PAs, NPs, and certified...

Issue 9, March 3, 2009

• Doctor's day is just around the corner, so it's time to get creative!

  Budgets are tight, but that doesn’t mean your Doctor’s Day celebration should be...

• Ask the expert: How many facilities pay the president of the medical staff?

  According to a quick poll conducted on www.hcpro.com, 76% of respondents indicate that their...

• Tip of the week: Put H&P requirement language in your medical staff bylaws

  Medical staffs have traditionally placed H&P requirement language in their rules and...

Issue 8, February 25, 2009

• Managing the disruptive physician part 2: The performance pyramid model

  The pyramid model illustrates that if you build the foundation layers of the medical staff well...

• Ask the expert: Is there a software system with core privileging forms built in?

  Yes, it’s called Core Privilege Plus, a Web-based privileging software containing more than...

• Tip of the week: Encourage participation at meetings

  Strong, but not dictatorial leadership is a key to encouraging open discussion and participation...

• Editor's pick: Listen to a free, audio preview of our credentialing and privileging workshop for medical staff leaders

  Time is money, and these days no one can afford either commodity. That’s why HCPro, Inc. has...

Issue 7, February 18, 2009

• Standardization vs. customization: Understanding physicians' and hospitals' perspectives

  The resistance to “cookbook medicine” is not new. Although most physicians have...

• Ask the expert: Should allied health professionals have their own manual, policies, and procedures?

  Yes, this may be an acceptable arrangement. But first, it is important to understand that the term...

• Tip of the week: Know your legal terms

  Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with a medical malpractice or negligent peer review...

• Last call for speakers: Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  Are you interested in sharing your strategies for tackling contemporary medical staff challenges...

• Editor’s pick: Medical Staff Leader Virtual Training Workshop

  If palm trees and sandy beaches aren’t in your medical staff training budget at the moment...

Issue 6, February 11, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: No data is useful data

  When defining indicators to measure physician competence, medical staffs have stumbled on the...

• Tip of the week: Delegate thoughtfully

  Every time you make a decision to delegate and involve staff, you free up time to focus on other...

• Ask the expert: Are you rethinking hospital-physician relationships?

  Please help HCPro provide you with important information you need by  taking a moment to share...

Issue 5, February 4, 2009

• Medical staff alert: ABPS' announcement of board certification ruffles feathers

  The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) recently announced the new American Board of...

• Physicians still recovering from Katrina

  Dr. Anna Pou, who stayed with her patients at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans for several...

• Ask the expert: How long should you maintain emergency call schedules?

  The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) rules state that the hospital must...

• Tip of the week: Don't expedite the credentialing procedure for red-flag applicants

  Once the medical staff services department receives a completed application from a physician and...

• Editor's pick: Medical Staff Leader Virtual Training Workshop

  It’s a new year, which means you have new medical staff leaders on your team. We can’t...

• Speakers wanted: Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  Are you interested in sharing your strategies for tackling contemporary medical staff challenges...

Issue 4, January 28, 2009

• Managing the Disruptive Physician Part 1: Why is managing disruption so important?

  This five-part series, authored by Jonathan Burroughs, MD, MBA, CMSL, senior consultant with The...

• Ask the expert: What would you consider or define as a privilege restriction and who can or should be able to impose such a restriction?

  Whether a decision is considered a "restriction" is sometimes in the eye of the beholder...

• Tip of the week: Prepare an agenda to ensure an efficient meeting

  Arrange to meet with the chair of each committee, even if only for 15 minutes, to plan and go over...

• Speakers wanted: Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium

  Are you interested in sharing your strategies for tackling contemporary medical staff challenges...

• Editor's pick: Medical Staff Leader Virtual Training Workshop

  It’s a new year, which means you have new medical staff leaders on your team. We can’t...

Issue 3, January 21, 2009

• Start now to ensure a successful hearing

  Theresa J. Rambosek, a healthcare attorney with Seattle-based Bennett, Bigelow & Leedom shares...

• Tip of the week: Provide physician reviewers with guidance

  The primary question a physician reviewer is trying to answer is whether a physician’s...

• Ask the expert: When a physician requests a fair hearing, how long does the medical staff have to react?

  Under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act, if a physician requests a hearing, he or she must be...

• Editor's Pick: Medical Staff Leader Virtual Training Workshop

  It’s a new year, which means you have new medical staff leaders on your team. We can’t...

Issue 2, January 14, 2009

• Helping physicians see FPPE as a tool, not a weapon

  In 2007, The Joint Commission gave hospital medical staffs a gift: a framework to measure quality...

• Tip of the week: Plan ahead for successful meetings

  Meetings often involve special equipment and materials. It is the meeting planner’s...

• Ask the expert: Should physicians get paid to do routine proctoring? If so, does the hospital, the individual being proctored, or the medical staff organization foot the bill?

  When the Joint Commission introduced focused professional practice evaluation (FPPE), it greatly...

• Editor's pick: Medical staff leader training series

  It’s a new year, which means you have new medical staff leaders on your team. We can’t...

Issue 1, January 7, 2009

• Peer Review Monthly: Peer review and the culture of safety

  With the 2009 Joint Commission leadership standards calling for organizations to create a culture...

• Tip of the week: Set the stage for meeting success

  Room setup can affect a meeting in significant ways. Whoever is planning the meeting should arrive...

• Ask the expert: If the medical executive committee decides it needs to investigate a physician's conduct or competence, who should conduct this investigation?

  It is often most practical for the medical executive committee to assign the duty of...

• Editor's pick: Core Privilege Plus

  Don’t divide your time between developing privileging forms from scratch and searching for a...

• Joint Commission adjusts medical staff standards to comply with CMS regulations

  The Joint Commission announced Monday that, as part of its application to the Centers for Medicare...

Issue 1, September 22, 2009

• Test Image in Abstract

  By Peggy S. Blue, MPH, CPC, CCS-P One of the goals of National Arthritis Month is to increase...