Although the board is ultimately responsible for oversight of the organization, the level of data detail presented decreases as the level of authority increases. Unfortunately, physician performance data does not have the well-established metrics that are available for other data, such as financial data reporting. In this new era of quality data, we as an industry are still making our way through uncharted waters.

Like many facilities, the MedOptions, Inc. team was faced with an acquisition and resulting provider volume increases, which is enough to keep any team busy. This team was further challenged with a charge by administration to also reduce the time it took to onboard new providers. Download this free case study to learn how!

A Texas Congressman is trying to encourage the growth of physician-owned hospitals. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, recently introduced a bill into the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which ban self-referrals to patients to new physician-owned hospitals.

"This policy threatens the citizens of Missouri. If this practice of denying emergency care can happen in our state, it can happen in any state and we must work both locally and nationally to fight for our patients' rights to have access to emergency care as protected by the 'prudent layperson' standard."

Converting to core privileging is a time-consuming and complex endeavor that is well worth the effort. But how do you convince everyone else? If your experience has been like many physician leaders, mentioning a change to the credentialing/privileging process garners a multitude of reactions. MSPs are usually extremely supportive and the medical staff ranges from overtly hostile to agnostic, while administration and board of trustee members have a “deer in the headlights” look—although the chief financial officer always wants to know what it is going to cost.

 Published 5/25/17

"Going Paperless: University Hospitals' Case Study on Going to an Electronic-Only Medical Staff Office" is now available to Platinum Plus members of the Credentialing Resource Center. Click here to access this new release directly through the CRC website.

Also be sure to check out the three webinars released earlier this month for Platinum Plus members. Read on for details.

 Published 5/24/17

It’s a mild April morning. Dr. Smith, an accomplished surgeon, and Bill Loney, an affable—if absent-minded—general surgery practice manager, walk briskly down the halls of St. Elsewhere Medical Center, a far-off, yet somehow familiar, facility where Dr. Smith was recently hired. They pause at an office doorway, ducking inside to find Kay Oss, the hospital’s director of medical staff services, hunched over a paper-laden desk, phone propped between shoulder and ear as she scribbles frantic notes.

 Published 5/24/17

When it comes to temporary privileges, required credentialing steps and timelines vary based on the accreditor and, in some cases, the purpose for the grant. Regardless of accreditor, however, a hospital’s stance on temporary privileging parameters should be codified in the medical staff bylaws. This resource provides some sample language for a Joint Commission-accredited hospital.

 Published 5/22/17

This month we examine the increasing use of performance evaluations for medical staff leaders—both elected and appointed. It is important to start with why a performance evaluation system should be considered.

 Published 5/22/17

The Physician Chairperson Performance Measurement form is a tool for measuring and documenting performance, discussing professional and organizational development, and setting goals and objectives. The tool is designed to facilitate communication and feedback, the most critical element in the performance planning and evaluation process. The process should strengthen the partnership between the hospital administration and the chairperson, ultimately benefiting the individual chair, the organization, patients, and all parties involved.

In observance of Memorial Day, we will not publish CRC Daily on Monday, March 29. We'll resume our normal publication schedule on Tuesday, March 30. 

Taking the 2017 MSP Salary Survey pays off! Here’s how.