Many medical staffs begin their bylaws with a list of definitions for terms used throughout the bylaws, the name of the organization, a preamble, and a statement of purpose and authority. Is all this necessary? The simple answer is, “No, these items are not required.” But, to elaborate, let’s...
Calling all physician leaders, medical staff professionals, and credentialing professionals--We want to hear from you! Join us for a focus group call on Tuesday, December 10 at 1 p.m. EST to discuss the latest in industry news. We want to know what you're most interested in, what challenges you'...
Over time, it has become common for many medical staff governance decisions to set precedents for the future. Although not required by any regulatory, licensing, or accreditation body, these decisions have become de facto truths for many medical staffs around the country. For this reason,...
When faced with a negligent credentialing claim, it is absolutely essential to preserve the integrity of documentation that is in the hospital’s or healthcare entity’s possession. Take steps to ensure that information does not go missing. In most organizations, a risk manager will place the...
CMS’s CoPs state that medical staff bylaws must “describe the organization of the medical staff” (42 CFR § 482.22(c)). One of the key structural questions a medical staff must ponder is whether to organize itself into clinical departments. Although there is no regulatory...
Medical staff officers have the responsibility to govern and oversee the administrative functions of the medical staff. In the past, the office of medical staff president or chief of staff was an honorary position that required little work—truth be told, most of that work was actually done by...
