The number of non-physician practitioners applying for privileges at hospitals today is growing rapidly. In some places, the applications from non-physicians regularly outpace those from doctors. Fashioning a dedicated committee (or subcommittee) to evaluate the credentials of non-physician practitioners allows multiple initial review committees to share the workload of assessing applications.

Medical staff committees are among the vehicles driving delivery of quality patient care. Effective documentation of the issues discussed and decisions made by these committees provides a road map for the medical staff and administration to follow as they pursue the organization’s mission, values, and patient care goals. Factual, concise, and organized meeting materials foster and reflect a team approach to decision-making about critical medical staff issues that affect our communities, friends, and families.

National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week is November 6–12. How will you be celebrating? Send your ideas, tips, photos, and planning materials to Editor Delaney Rebernik at drebernik@hcpro.com, and you could see your contributions featured on the CRC site. Stay tuned for details on the special deals we’re launching that week to honor the hardworking professionals at the heart of patient safety and quality care. 

Interested in sharing your opinions and learning what your colleagues are up to? Join HCPro on Wednesday, November 16, from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. EST for a medical staff-related focus group. We want to know what the hot topics are in medical staff services, what issues you are struggling with, and how we can help you meet your daily challenges. Email Karen Kondilis at kkondilis@hcpro.com to sign up.

Check out our two new contests for MSPs and medical staff leaders who have made exceptional strides.