Is peer review on life support?
There is very little direct measurement of the direct effect of peer review on the quality of care delivered, according to Mark Smith, MD, of HG Healthcare Consultants LLC. Smith spoke to the effectiveness of the current peer review system most hospitals have in place during the 39th Annual National Association Medical Staff Services Education Conference. Smith says the healthcare industry is not getting the “bang for their buck” with the amount of time and energy spent on peer review. His suggestion is to change to a peer review system that focuses on healthcare teams, to match how healthcare is now delivered. This includes:
- Defining what and who a healthcare team is
- Defining what quality performance looks like for such a team
- Defining the metrics
As for metrics that can be applied to team delivery, Smith suggests measuring communication with team members and participation in care planning.
If you are struggling with your peer review system, the Credentialing and Peer Review Legal Insider monthly newsletter provides tips and tools for the most common issues related to peer review. For more information, click here.