Tip of the week: Create position descriptions for key medical staff leaders

Certain leadership positions are critical to the success of the medical staff and hospital. Hospitals should develop descriptions for these positions, as well as for several key committee chair positions, such as:

• Vice president of medical affairs (VPMA)
• Medical staff president
• Chief of staff
• Department chairs
• MEC members

Although the MEC is the only committee that The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) requires, sometimes hospitals need or prefer to have separate committees for credentialing, quality improvement, and pharmacy and therapeutics due to the amount of work, time, and expertise needed for each.

This week’s tip comes from The Medical Executive Committee Handbook, Third Edition, by Mary J. Hoppa, MD, MBA, CMSL; Albert L. Fritz, MHA; and Richard A. Sheff, MD, CMSL.