Required impairment bylaws language
Practitioner impairment threatens all levels of operation. If left unchecked, age, health, or behavioral issues on the medical staff can diminish care quality, incite legal trouble, and jeopardize the safety of the entire hospital community. As public scrutiny grows, hospitals must ensure their processes for catching and addressing impairment pass muster. Samuel J. Furci, MPA, principal at Furci Associates, LLC, in West Orange, New Jersey, answers a question about the required language for the bylaws.
Q: Is medical staff bylaw language regarding age, health, and impairment required by The Joint Commission?
A: All the requirements are set forth in MS.01.01.01, under EPs 12–36. That’s all the required language for the bylaws, and EPs 28–33 require language to address indications and the process for automatic suspension, summary suspension, and termination of membership or clinical privileges. The details associated with those requirements may reside actually in the bylaws, rules or regulations, or policies.
The policies can provide the detail, but there should be at least reference in the bylaws if not all the detail. I would suggest that the detail is too much to include in your bylaws, and that you should just