Special thanks to everyone who joined us for the CRC & NPE Virtual Experience this week! As a reminder, this program qualifies for 21.5 NAMSS continuing education units, 18 AAPC continuing education hours, and 18 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. To receive your credits, please complete the post-program evaluation within two weeks of the event's conclusion; please see the online program guide for more information.

For those of you who were unable to attend our virtual event, we have exciting news: The National Provider Enrollment Forum returns this September with an all-new credentialing track! Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this event marks our return to in-person education, and we couldn't be more excited. Click here to learn more and claim your spot today!

Even in the greatest hospitals and systems, communication is a challenge, and care can be segmented. As an MSP, you have the opportunity to act as an advocate for your medical staff. In your discussions with physicians or hospital employees about initiatives that are starting, make it a point to suggest physician involvement and communication. One of the best ways to resolve turf conflicts is to prevent them.

The highest-paid physician specialty is plastic surgery, with plastic surgeons reported earning an average of $526,000 annually, according to Medscape's Physician Compensation Report 2021. That represents a 10% increase since the 2020 edition of the report. The report, based on surveys from 18,000 physicians across 29 specialties, also found that the lowest-paid physician specialty is Pediatrics, with physicians reporting an average annual salary of $221,000, a five percent decrease since the 2020 report.

The Superior Court of Delaware (the "Court") granted part of a plaintiff's motion to compel discovery of certain documents used by a hospital's credentials committee, finding that the plaintiff's allegations were substantial enough that further discovery may flesh out her argument. The plaintiff, Deborah Palmer, filed suit against the defendant, Christiana Care Health Services, Inc. (the "Hospital") following the death of her husband. Palmer brought forth allegations against the Hospital of respondeat superior (i.e., being responsible for the acts of its agent), agency, supervision, and failure to control the neurosurgeon who operated on her husband.

Last year, we worked through best practices for a corrective action process that could be codified in a due process and fair hearing manual within your medical staff bylaws. The series ended with a teaser that asked, “What if you had a system in place that could minimize or completely eliminate the need to use that manual?” This new series is designed to explore the answer to that question.