A task force has revised a controversial Joint Commission standard
governing physician-hospital relations in ways it hopes will better ensure
medical staff independence.
The changes to the commission standard -- adopted in 2004 and first revised
in 2007 -- were drafted by a task force of organizations representing
hospitals, physicians and dentists. Doctors and others can review and
comment on the draft standard until Jan. 28
(www.jointcommission.org/standards/fieldreviews/ms_01_01_01_comment.htm).
Jay A. Gregory, MD, chair of the governing council for the AMA Organized
Medical Staff Section, served on the task force that came up with the
changes. "The key thing is that we maintained the medical staff's
independence and self-governance," he said.
Physician organizations, such as the AMA and the American College of
Physicians, wanted to ensure that a hospital's medical staff had a
mechanism, under the commission standard, to confront a medical executive
committee that does not represent its views.
"There are two main times when we see this perceived balance of power get
out of whack," Dr. Gregory said. "One is when the medical executive
committee is controlled by [hospital] employees. The other is when there
just happens to be some strong competitors on the committee and they
manipulate the system to their advantage, and that does happen. The medical
staff needs to have the ability to address these issues."
The intent behind the draft standard, according to a
frequently-asked-questions document posted at the commission's Web site, is
to enable a hospital's medical staff, governing body and executives to
agree on rules and procedures that will guide their relations.
Under the draft standard, the medical staff and the medical executive
committee must notify each other when they want to change a hospital rule,
regulation or policy. The proposed standard also lays out a process for
resolving conflicts between the two bodies.
The full and original article can be found here:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/01/25/prsd0126.htm
