Ask the expert: How can I ensure that the MEC is living up to the medical staff’s and hospital’s expectations?

One of the best ways to ensure that the MEC is living up to the medical staff’s and hospital’s expectations is for the group to answer self-assessment questions. The Medical Executive Committee Handbook, Third Edition, published by HCPro, offers more than 80 self-evaluation questions, but start with these five to get the committee talking:

1. Does the MEC consist of a workable number of members—neither too few nor too many—to function effectively and efficiently?
2. Are individuals other than physicians (e.g., the CEO or VPMA) present during MEC meetings, either as voting members or non-voting members?
3. Are prospective MEC members identified by a nominating committee or through another formally organized process?
4. Does the mechanism used to select MEC members use pre-established criteria pertaining to:
   1. Prior service with the medical staff?
   2. Commitment to the institution and medical staff?
   3. Demonstrated leadership ability?
   4. Professional respect?
   5. Interest in serving?
   6. Commitment to participate?
   7. Absence of significant conflict of interest?
5. Are potential MEC members selected carefully to ensure a balance of both leadership and management talents and a sufficient representation of the various sectors within the medical staff?