A woman was able to practice as a psychiatrist in the United Kingdom for over 20 years despite not having a medical degree. Zholia Alemi claimed she had a medical degree from The University of Auckland in New Zealand and registered as a physician in the United Kingdom in 1995. In truth, Alemi dropped out of medical school during her first year.

The medical executive committee (MEC) interacts with many individuals and groups in the hospital. One of the most important relationships in terms of patient care is between the MEC and the general medical staff. The MEC ensures that the medical staff has good physicians through credentialing and privileging, quality improvement, and continuing education activities. However, the MEC is also responsible for communicating hospital business to physicians and ensuring good communication among the medical staff.

This is the third in a continuing series of articles designed for medical staff leaders and their associates. This month, we join Williams and Greeley as they discuss how to make your quality improvement process less punitive.

The Court of Appeal for the State of California (the “Court”) affirmed a superior court’s denial of a physician’s petition for relief from discipline he received from the university hospital where he practiced, after the hospital found he violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).