Help is on the way

Dear Medical Staff Leader,

Take a moment. You've earned it!
This morning, like most other mornings, you awoke at 5:30 a.m. and began to mentally and physically prepare for your jammed-packed day. Your mind quickly shuffled through the many things on your schedule: rounds, a medical staff meeting in the morning, patient appointments at your office, a noon meeting at the hospital, and more patient appointments in the afternoon. In addition to these scheduled activities, you were faced with troubleshooting various practice issues before returning to the hospital for evening rounds and attending your professional organization meeting.

Whew!  For many people the work day would be over at the conclusion of the evening meeting. However, a medical staff leader's tasks are not yet complete. There are still conversations to be had with peers and patients, emails to check, CMEs to obtain, meeting packets to review, administrative meetings for which to prepare.  After you return home, you take time to spend precious few moments with those you love.  Does this experience sound familiar?  

Here is the good news. You can alleviate some of the stress by partnering with your medical staff professional (MSP). Rely on the MSP as your "go to" resource. They are trained and experienced in medical staff office operations and understand the unique challenges you face. They can expertly manage multiple administrative tasks, which will allow you more time to evaluate patient care outcomes and practices as well as new opportunities to devote toward strengthening your collegial relationships.

Begin today to reach out to your MSP for assistance and renewed motivation.  Any task shared is always easier to complete.  Here are some key areas where MSPs' skills, knowledge, and diplomacy will serve your well:

• Applying best industry credentialing practices.
• Coordinating and monitoring a criteria-based clinical privileging process.
• Driving your practitioner performance report card project (ensuring the interface with the quality department is healthy).
• Managing the medical staff meeting responsibilities through notification, draft agenda preparation, accurate transcription of minutes, and timely follow-up.
• Interpreting and advising on non-compliance areas in standards, licensing, regulatory requirements, bylaws, and rules and regulations.
• Developing drafts of communications (correspondence, newsletters, flyers, etc.) pertaining to medical staff business.
• Facilitating ongoing interactions with the VPMA/CMO/medical director and administration.
• Serving as a good listener and accurately conveying needs to appropriate leaders onhospital service and operational issues.
• Coordinating social events to promote enhanced relationships.  
• Acting as the medical staff historian.

I know there are many other responsibilities that you alone must perform.  However, partner with the MSP to make your role as a medical staff leader less burdensome and more enjoyable.

Help is not only on the way but is here to serve you now!  Your day as a physician will still be busy, but your tasks as a medical staff leader will be more meaningful and rewarding. 

Until next we speak.SMILE   
 
All the best,

Donna Goestenkors, CPMSM
Credentialing and Privileging consultant
The Greeley Company