CMS requires that medical staffs must have a policy for fair hearing and appeal. An applicant or an individual holding a medical staff appointment is entitled to request a hearing when the MEC or the board has made an unfavorable recommendation regarding staff membership or privileges.

Legislators in Indiana are trying once again to pass a law allowing for mandatory immunizations for hospital employees. Sen. Frank Mrvan (D-Hammond) introduced a bill that would authorize hospitals to have a written policy in place requiring immunizations as a condition of employment. The hospital could terminate an employee if he or she doesn’t get an immunization, which includes flu, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and meningococcal.

"Our research suggests that if a manager understands, through their own experience, what is needed to complete a job to the highest standard, then they may be more likely to create the right work environment, set appropriate goals and accurately evaluate others’ contributions."

- James K. Stoller, Amanda Goodall, and Agnes Baker discuss why physicians should manage hospitals in an article for Harvard Business Review.

All hospitals should have policies regarding conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest policy goes a long way toward eliminating the possibility of undisclosed conflicts. This conflict of interest policy delineates the expectation of disclosure of conflict of interest and how to resolve the issue when it occurs. The hospital board, management, or medical executive committee can implement this policy to raise awareness about potential or existing conflicts.

For legal and financial reasons, economic credentialing is a concern of the governing board, not of the medical staff. Antitrust laws preclude physicians from deciding whether to admit or deny membership to their physician competitors based on economic factors. The financial “big picture” is ultimately within the realm of concern of a hospital’s executive team and its board, as opposed to its medical staff. This is not to say, however, that economic credentialing policies are not of concern to the medical staff, particularly where they intersect with quality and service concerns.

Today’s MSPs are taking on larger volumes of work and scopes of responsibility than ever before, often without seeing equivalent gains in respect and standing. At the same time, many are still struggling with decades-old issues, such as integrating peer review into the credentialing and privileging process, verifying primary sources effectively, and avoiding procedural pitfalls that can fuel legal action. Challenging the status quo can be difficult without sufficient time, resources, and influence.

Given these obstacles, how can MSPs reach their full professional potential, both individually and collectively? Sometimes, it’s the little changes that make the biggest impact. This is my list of to-dos for 2017 (because I won’t lose those last 10 pounds). I encourage you to consider, adapt, and add to these resolutions in the year ahead.

Three categories of advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) now have full practice authority within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system when acting within their scope of employment. This stepped up authority, the result of a final rule announced on December 14, 2016, extends to certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives. Left out, however, are certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA)—who had been part of the proposed rule.

According to a 2016 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could experience a shortage of 61,700–94,700 physicians by 2025. As the physician pool dwindles, and technology rapidly advances, more and more medical staffs will turn to telemedicine solutions to enhance their team. But disparate and evolving regulatory requirements, coupled with potentially numerous practitioner affiliations, can make evaluating telemedicine providers’ competence a compliance nightmare.

Early bird pricing ends next Thursday. Don't miss out! 

Sponsorship with the Credentialing Resource Center (CRC) Symposium offers targeted access to MSPs and medical staff leaders. Download the 2017 CRC Symposium prospectus to explore opportunities to engage with a live, active audience. Questions? Contact Amy Roadman at aroadman@healthleadersmedia.com. 

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