Handling requests for information from law enforcement can throw staff for a loop. Most staff are aware of their organization’s policies and the basic Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements for disclosing patient information to family members, friends, and other individuals such as legal guardians. But handling requests from law enforcement officials can be a different matter.

As physician burnout continues to be a major issue in the healthcare industry, many hospitals are taking steps to encourage wellness among their physicians. Such programs are a worthwhile enterprise, as a single physician turnover is estimated to cost a hospital anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000. Cleveland Clinic, however, is decreasing turnover through a new internally-staffed wellness program with features designed to keep physicians from burning out.

Today, to help medical staff leaders and committees manage the challenges that sometimes emerge as practitioners age, many organizations have developed policies and procedures that include methods for proactively answering questions of competency for late-practice physicians. These policies must take into account federal law, which prohibits discrimination against a person solely on the basis of age. Violation of this principle could lead to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and unwanted legal proceedings.

Your organization should assess bylaws on an annual basis and whenever a regulatory body introduces a new standard or makes changes to an existing standard. However, a thorough assessment of your bylaws can occur less frequently.

Published 6/6/18

In recent years, the demand for locum tenens physicians has risen dramatically across the country, largely as the result of increased patient volume. Contributing to this increase is the aging baby boomer population and a drop in uninsured under the Affordable Care Act.

Published 6/4/18

Aging populations, increasing healthcare costs, and continuously advancing technology have made telemedicine the fastest-growing area within the healthcare industry. With more hospitals and other healthcare organizations using this tool to deliver services to their patients, MSPs must make sure telemedicine providers are thoroughly evaluated and vetted.

Do you share OPPE information with your quality department? Answer our latest poll question to let us know. You must be signed in with your free or paid CRC account to participate.

This question was first posed on the Credentialing Resource Center Forums. Have something else on your mind? Click here to get the conversation started.