There is good protection for individuals who engage in peer review activities, including proctors, and one type of protection comes in the form of legal immunity from damages. This immunity is provided under federal law—the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 (HCQIA)—and it is often reinforced by similar state statutes. However, although these statutes can prevent monetary damage judgments against participants in legitimate peer review, they cannot keep lawsuits from being filed.

CRC members can peruse all the online articles from the February 2018 issues of Credentialing Resource Center Journal and Medical Staff Briefing—as well as full-color, newly redesigned PDFs—here:

• CRCJ
• MSB

To access the relevant full-issue PDF, select "DOWNLOAD FULL ISSUE" at the top of the page.

This case highlights how an entire organization (i.e., board, medical staff leadership, CEO, attorney) was unclear about the employment/contract route versus the medical staff privileging process. Whether it was lack of knowledge or purposeful, the outcome was not good as evidenced by the jury’s verdict and the deleterious impact upon a physician's career. 

Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials (including antibiotics), improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

In a recent publication, “Antibiotic Use in the United States, 2017: Progress and Opportunities,” the CDC reported that roughly 30% of hospital antibiotics are prescribed incorrectly or are entirely unnecessary. However, on average, antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings decreased by 5% from 2011 to 2014.

The Credentialing Resource Center (CRC) team would like to thank everyone who made the 2018 CRC Symposium a resounding success. Click here to access our photo gallery featuring snapshots from educational sessions captured during the two-day training extravaganza in Las Vegas. 

Writing books/columns and speaking on webinars and at seminars are great ways to share your industry knowledge with peers. With the guidance of a solid publishing company, you’ll see your thoughts and tips become beacons to others in your field. We’re always looking for new authors, speakers, and reviewers. For more than 20 years, HCPro has been a leading provider of integrated healthcare information, education, training, and consulting products. Among HCPro’s need-to-know information products are a vast array of books, newsletters, websites, annual webinars, and annual live events.