Weekly Roundup: Legal Considerations | Featured content: Negligent credentialing put under the microscope in Kentucky | The Kentucky Supreme Court (the “Court”) recently reversed a Court of Appeals ruling that would have allowed patients to sue hospitals for negligent credentialing of non-employee physicians who are given staff privileges. The Court’s decision strikes down negligent credentialing as a separate and new cause of action against hospitals in Kentucky. |
Free resource: Sample bylaw language for exclusive contracts | If a practitioner loses privileges or membership because the hospital offers an exclusive contract to another practitioner or specialty group, most institutions will not offer a fair hearing, and the action is not reported to the NPDB. Most hospitals have one or more exclusive contracts with members of the medical staff to ensure round-the-clock coverage for a particular service. Most institutions do not want to waste resources on fair hearings when they exclude physicians to comply with an exclusive contract. |
Quick tip: Defending against legal actions brought by patients for negligent peer review | In recent years, it has become common for patients to sue a hospital for negligent peer review when they bring a malpractice action against a physician. Their claim generally is that inadequate medical staff monitoring of an incompetent physician allowed a bad outcome in their care. These are referred to as corporate negligent suits, because the argument is that a properly run hospital would not have admitted or retained an incompetent practitioner on its medical staff. |
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New Content: Members Only | Family medicine and the role of obstetrics: Is it obsolete? Published 2/19/18 | There is a declining trend in the number of family medicine (FM) physicians receiving obstetrics privileges nowadays. These providers were once responsible for the family in every aspect of its development—from a child’s conception to adulthood. Now they are more of a means to an end, a first stop for patients who want to be referred to a specialist. Are these changes the result of progress and improved specialization—a form of natural selection in the medical industry—or is personalized family care taking a backseat in favor of modern efficiency? |
Peer review: Determining the appropriateness of care and making reviewers comfortable Published 2/20/18 | All hospitals have some kind of peer review system in place, yet physicians and support staff often receive little training on how to conduct peer review well. Conducting peer review fairly and efficiently requires critical steps be taken by peer review coordinators, physician reviewers, the peer review committee, and department chairs. By supporting these players in the peer review process, organizations can ensure they exceed the regulatory requirements regarding peer review and focus on physician performance excellence. |
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CRC Announcements | Are you a subject matter expert? | Writing books/columns and speaking on webinars and at seminars are great ways to share your industry knowledge with peers. With the guidance of a solid publishing company, you’ll see your thoughts and tips become beacons to others in your field. We’re always looking for new authors, speakers, and reviewers. For more than 20 years, HCPro has been a leading provider of integrated healthcare information, education, training, and consulting products. Among HCPro’s need-to-know information products are a vast array of books, newsletters, websites, annual webinars, and annual live events. |
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Contact Us | Karen Kondilis Managing Editor Credentialing Resource Center kkondilis@hcpro.com HCPro 35 Village Road, Suite 200 Middleton, MA 01949 800-650-6787 www.hcpro.com For advertising and marketing opportunities with the Credentialing Resource Center, please email dhartley@hcpro.com. | |
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