According to a study of private health insurance claims data, use of telehealth services is increasing rapidly. In 2005, the number of annual telemedicine visits in the data set was 206. In 2017, that number increased to more than 202,000. As telemedicine use continues to surge, it is becoming...
Because all data are biased to a certain extent, it is important to include an explanation in physician performance reports about how the data are derived. When explaining data to physicians, or any group, keep in mind that the audience will be less familiar with the data than you.
It is wise to have potential external peer reviewers in mind because the need for them can arise without warning. A good external peer review organization should provide the following:
Understanding what the NPDB considers an investigation is very important because several of the updates clarify reporting requirements when a practitioner resigns while under investigation. How does the NPDB describe investigations?
In the ambulatory arena, top problems include identifying viable reviewers, developing a robust assessment mechanism, and putting aside collegial and business allegiances to ensure meaningful evaluation.
Bias is a common stumbling block to effective peer review. Bias can take a well-meaning committee that is truly focused on improvement and make it appear as if it is practicing sham peer review. At St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado the professional review committee is a...