Choosing a medical specialty to enter is perhaps the most important choice a medical student will make in his or her career as a physician. Many factors ultimately influence this decision, from level of compensation to the desired level of interaction with patients. With 2018 coming to a close, it’s a good time to examine trends among medical specialties for the year.

The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice recently released an open letter addressed to Maryland Senator Dan K. Morhaim, MD, board member of the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), concerning its views on Maryland House Bill 857, which was withdrawn after receiving an unfavorable report by health and government operations. The Bill centers on physician specialty board certification, addressing whether an organization granting a physician privileges can require that the physician be board-certified by a specific board in order to qualify for privileges.

Peer review remains a vital part of both credentialing and privileging, and it is indicative of the desire to pursue physician excellence. Beyond the need to meet regulatory requirements, when peer review is done from a performance improvement perspective, it provides the opportunity for the medical profession to get ahead of the curve with respect to data transparency and risk management. However, for peer review to be successful, hospital professionals must secure physician buy-in.

MSPs, we want to hear from you for our next Medical Staff Briefing article! As as the end of the year nears, we encourage you to reflect on this past year and look eagerly towards the coming one. If you're interested in sharing your 2018 achievements and 2019 aspirations with us and your fellow MSPs, please email kaccorto@hcpro.com for more information. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!