Medical Staff Briefing, November 2012

Peer review is intended to maintain a standard of quality within a healthcare institution by identifying any issues among physicians and addressing them accordingly. Hospitals aim to resolve any concerns before the issues result in an adverse recommendation affecting clinical privileges or a peer review hearing. Unfortunately, hearings do occasionally occur, and when they do, it is important for the medical staff services department to present a complete and accurate record of interactions with the physician, particularly if the physician has a history of problem behavior or quality of care issues. Thus, accurate and thorough documentation is a crucial part of the peer review process. MSB spoke with legal experts to find out what information must be documented and why.

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