This week's problem is addressed by Frank Fiaschetti, MD. A vascular and general surgeon, Dr. Fiaschetti has extensive experience in medical staff leadership, peer review, and Joint Commission accreditation, and is one of the Principals of MDReview.
Problem:
"We lose momentum and take too many steps backward every time the membership of our peer review committee changes."
Solution:
The potential adverse impact of changing peer review committee membership over time cannot be underestimated. All the effort put into building your peer review on mutually agreed upon guiding principles (See the ProblemSolved "Medical Staff Support".) and ensuring that these principles are reflected in bylaws, policies, procedures, and behaviors, can be easily lost as committee membership changes.
Too often, physicians are asked to take on integrally
important committee assignments, but the importance of their role is not
reflected in the effort put forth to orient them to their new
responsibilities. A sound orientation program for new members is essential for preventing
the
loss of committee effectiveness over time. This is but one example of
how the
role of the medical staff director/manager (or management team
colleague) can
play a vitally important role for the hospital. With longevity and
expertise on
their side, they can serve as a stabilizing force over time, preserving
both
the effectiveness of the peer review committee and the support it has
garnered
among physicians.
Certainly, an argument could be made that just as a
physician's clinical privileges are predicated on proof of competence,
so
should the privilege to participate as a member of the peer review
committee. At a minimum, the new member should be required to partake in a thorough
orientation, coordinated by medical staff management and directed by
committee
leadership, that includes the following:
- Sections of the medical staff bylaws and rules & regulations that pertain to peer review
- A presentation on the fundamentals of peer review
- Relevant rules and regulations
- Medical staff structure and where the peer review committee fits
- The roles and responsibilities of the peer review committee as outlined in the bylaws
- The guiding principles that drive all peer review activities, how they came to be and why
- The hospital's OPPE and FPPE process designs
- Committee meeting format
- Current and upcoming committee activities
The greater the appreciation for the peer review function and the potential it holds for clinical quality and patient safety, the more obvious becomes the need to embrace such orientation. Making sure that your new peer review committee members are ready to serve consistent with the foundation built by former and existing members optimizes their impact on your hospital and the people it serves.
Tags:
Print
Send
Share
