’What does the medical staff really want?’

OPPE/FPPE presentations drew some of the larger crowds at last week’s NAMSS conference, and practitioner evaluation in general was a hot topic. Balancing an organization’s needs against accreditation requirements is no easy task. It’s vital to understand what regulators and accreditors are looking for, but it’s equally important to be able to answer the question “What does the medical staff really want?” said Thomas Zweng, MD, FACS, senior vice president of medical affairs on Novant Health’s Greater Charlotte market, during a conference presentation.

“The medical staff leadership has to drive the process around OPPE/FPPE, because what we’re really trying to do is get some objective evidence for appointment and reappointment.” The problem, he said, was that medical staff leaders at many organizations haven’t done so. “We know about the [other] drivers—government, payers, the public, state medical boards, and accreditation – and unfortunately, if we don’t do things right, someone else will tell us how to do it.”

Knowing the medical executive committee’s role in OPPE, FPPE, and peer review has never been more crucial or more nuanced. A new release from HCPro, The Medical Executive Committee Manual, will offer some guidance on practitioner evaluation, peer review, leadership, physician employment and alignment, and much more. Click here for more information. Also, check out the CRC blog for more NAMSS notes and other entries. We’re always looking for blog topics, so let me know if you’ve got something to add.