Tip of the week: Do away with arbitrary time limits on committee appointments

Because so much work goes into training new committee members, keep existing members as long as they are doing a good job and are willing to serve. This may mean changing bylaws to do away with arbitrary time limits that do not allow for reappointment. For example, many medical staff bylaws contain language such as “Committee members will serve for a period of two years.”

To allow for greater continuity and return on the investment of training committee members, the medical staff should consider modifying this language to read, “Committee members will serve until replaced by the medical staff president,” or “Committee members will serve for a period of two years and may be reappointed.”

If the medical staff wishes to have timed appointments, it should consider staggering appointments so that there are always trained, experienced members serving on the committee. If you use staggered appointments, be sure to keep track of when committee appointments are due to expire.

This week’s tip is an excerpt from The Medical Staff Meeting Companion: Tools and Techniques for Effective Presentations by Kathy Matzka, CPMSM, CPCS.