Typically, recommendations for external peer review (EPR) arise from peer review committees that are faced with issues they can't resolve—lack of specialty expertise, conflicts of interest and other potential legal or credibility issues. The board should also have the right to determine whether it needs EPR to answer concerns or protect itself legally even if the medical staff believes it can, or has, conducted a fair review.

A recent article published by the Journal of the American Medical Association provides clinical insights about the new coronavirus outbreak that started in China. As of February 12, more than 45,000 cases of infections had been reported, with the vast majority of the cases in China, and the virus had been tied to more than 1,100 deaths, according to CNN. A CDC webpage has updated information about the spread of 2019-nCoV and the response to the epidemic.

Each organization should have some level of orientation for its physicians, as there are many organizational and regulatory requirements that physicians should be made aware of. MSPs should work with the president of the medical staff, the vice president of medical affairs, and the credentials committee to determine the type of orientation that best suits your organization, as well as what content your organization will include in the orientation.

Attending the 2020 CRC Sympoisum is sure to keep you busy, provide valuable education, and great networking opportunities, but make sure you leave some time to enjoy the New Orleans area. When you first think of New Orleans, you likely think of taking a stroll down Bourbon Street. So yes, go to Bourbon Street and soak it all in, but don’t forget about these alternatives in the area that are real crowd pleasers. Check out our list of local attractions.

Many medical staff bylaws were written in the distant past. Over time, some have come to resemble archaeological documents. Occasionally they might be dusted off and modified, whether to accommodate a new accreditation standard or to address a controversy du jour affecting the medical staff. The few medical staff members who craft bylaws language often have a high degree of investment in the resulting document and often resist attempts to modernize it. Thus, many medical staffs function much as they have for decades, despite the dramatic and relentless changes that occur in healthcare.

Mentoring is a relationship between two or more people that provides each party a structured professional connection to share experiences and skills. In addition to sharing experiences, mentoring is used to guide others when needed. It is suggested that all professionals find a mentor, especially early in their careers. Learning from a mentor will build your knowledge base and can provide support in areas in which your mentor may have more experience.

Rheumatology is the subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, rheumatic diseases—which typically cause pain, swelling, disability, deformity, and/or loss of function in the affected area.