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Tip of the week: Don't underestimate the value of a physician conduct policy

A physician conduct policy establishes clear expectations to which all medical staff members must adhere. Keep the following in mind when developing such expectations:

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Although useful, it is not necessary to produce a rate of complaints or to benchmark the physician against other physicians in the department or hospital. Despite the limitations of your hospital's quality software, you should be able to gather evidence of a physician's inappropriate behavior and noncompliance with performance expectations by collecting incident reports and complaints filed against the physician.

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Dear medical staff leader:

We have turned the corner. It is spring at last!  It is time to get out spring clothes, plant flowers, and make plans to attend an education program.

Many state chapters of the National Association Medical Staff Services host spring conferences. In fact, I'm looking forward to speaking at several in the next few months!  In addition, we at The Greeley Company are excited to see you in sunny Las Vegas in early May at the 10th Annual Credentialing Resource Center Symposium.

Many medical staff leaders who read this column understand the enormous benefits of attending education programs that help them effectively carry out their leadership responsibilities.  Attending an education program provides an opportunity to learn not only from the expert speakers on the podium, but also from peers working in facilities across the country. Networking is an invaluable benefit of attending any educational conference.

Unfortunately, I occasionally confront organizations that do not recognize the value of sending their medical staff professionals (MSPs) to education meetings. Facilities object to the registration fee or travel costs. In some instances, the hospital leadership is unsupportive simply because the conference will take the MSP out of the office for a few days. 

The most progressive, knowledgeable MSPs I know take advantage of every opportunity they can to maintain and improve their knowledge of credentialing, privileging, and medical staff organization management through attendance at local chapter, state, and national meetings and seminars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Medical staff leaders are undoubtedly aware of the tremendous value a knowledgeable MSP brings to the medical staff organization. Does your medical staff organization have funds and a budget for education programs? If so, earmark some of those funds for your hardworking MSPs. Send your MSPs to education conferences and ask that he or she ask report back what he or she learned as a result of attending.

Lastly, I'd like to share with you what I've learned about my MSP colleagues while speaking at countless local, state, and national meetings. MSPs are a dedicated group of individuals with a thirst for new information. They are in their chairs at the beginning of each education session and still in those chairs when the last speaker ends the day. Sending MSPs to outside meetings is certainly money and time well spent.

Until next week,

Vicki L. Searcy, CPMSM
Practice Director, Credentialing & Privileging
The Greeley Company
vsearcy@greeley.com
www.greeley.com

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Take your OR to the next level of quality and efficiency
Join The Greeley Company and HCPro at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa in Savannah, GA June 15-16 for Surgical Chair Forum. This program will provide new and experienced chairs of surgery with the skills they need on a daily basis to run a successful operating room, while balancing the needs of surgeons and the hospital.

To register, call 800/801-6661 and mention source code EZINEAD or visit www.greeley.com/seminars.

Your guide to core competency assessment

Residency program directors and coordinators must provide documentation and assessment of resident competence in six areas. A Practical Guide to Teaching and Assessing the ACGME Core Competencies compiles best practices from clinical specialties across the board to help you teach, assess, and document the core competencies in medical education.

To order your copy, call 800/650-6787 and mention source code EZINEAD, or visit HCPro's Healthcare Marketplace.