Tip of the week: Peer review chairs should include phone numbers on letters to physicians

Whenever a peer review committee sends a letter to a physician indicating that he or she provided inappropriate care, the chair should include his or her phone number on the letter and encourage the physician to call with questions or concerns. It may seem like opening up a can of worms, but it sends the message to physicians that the peer review committee isn’t there to dole out judgments—it is there to communicate with physicians and help them improve. 
  
This week’s tip is adapted from “Multi-disciplinary peer review system standardizes and streamlines case review: Providence Hospital and St. John Hospital and Medical Center” in the May issue of Medical Staff Briefing.