Synergy - September/October 2012 - 20

industry feature

to	internal	and	external	audiences	in	 terms	of	furthering	the	quality	of	 patient	care.	This	allowed	Carefine’s	 attorney	to	position	the	external	peer	 review	as	in	support	of	the	Quality	 Improvement	Act,	which	may	qualify	 the	hospital	for	certain	immunities	 under	the	act.	She	had	the	chief	of	staff	 request	the	CEO’s	approval	(It	could	 also	have	been	the	CMO	or	another	 officer	of	the	corporation).	This	may	 provide	added	legal	protection.	Lastly,	 she	processed	the	EPR	through	the	 office	of	hospital	legal	counsel.	This	 afforded	client/attorney	privilege,	which	 bolsters	confidentiality. •	 The	MSP	managed	the	completeness	 and	confidentiality	of	medical	record	 information.	She	ensured	that	the	CDs	 containing	the	imaging	studies	were	 included	in	the	records,	checked	all	CDs	 for	legibility	and	had	the	records	tabbed	to	 identify	various	components	of	the	record,	 which	made	it	easier	for	the	reviewers.	 Most	importantly,	she	sent	the	CDs	via	

overnight	courier	with	security-code	access	 only.	The	security	code	was	sent	to	the	 EPR	firm	via	electronic	mail.	

Conclusion
The	external	review	report	confirmed	that	 the	care	and	documentation	provided	 was	appropriate	and	met	a	generally	 recognized	standard	of	care.	The	EPR	 answered	the	specific	patient’s	questions	 asked	by	Carefine.	Segments	of	the	 actual	EPR	report	were	shared	with	the	 patient.	The	EPR	report	positioned	the	 CMO	to	have	a	number	of	productive	 discussions	with	the	patient	and	his	family	 to	respond	to	their	questions.	Additional	 risk	management	approaches	were	also	 used	to	enhance	the	patient’s	relationship	 with	Carefine.	The	patient	is	continuing	 to	be	treated	at	Carefine’s	outpatient	 rehabilitation	facility.	The	MSP’s	careful	 coordination	skills,	knowledge	and	 approach	made	a	quality	review	happen	 in	a	timely	and	cost-effective	manner.	

The	MSP	plays	a	significant	role	in	the	 medical	staff	peer	review	process.	Many	 facilities	are	now	incorporating	the	 medical	staff	peer	review	process	into	the	 job	description	of	the	medical	services	 professional.	Medical	staff	leaders	trust	the	 medical	staff	professional	when	it	comes	to	 a	fair	peer	review	process.	Where	once	this	 was	solely	the	responsibility	of	the	quality	 department,	more	and	more	facilities	are	 incorporating	the	peer	review	process	into	 the	medical	staff	resources	department.	■

Al Fritz, JD, brings nearly 30 years of experience in healthcare management, leadership and consulting to his work with medical staffs and hospitals across the nation. He currently serves as a member of HG Healthcare Consultants LLC, located in Pasadena, Md. To contact Al call 443/ 827-8179 or email al.fritz@verizon.net. Christine Hearst, CPMSM, Director of Medical Staff Resources, St. Anthony Hospital and Secretary, Colorado Association of Medical Staff Services.

How do in-the-know MSPs stay up-to-date on the latest credentialing and privileging information?
With a membership to the Credentialing Resource Center (CRC)!
CRC membership includes an online resource providing you with news, privileging criteria research, and tools to keep you ahead of the curve and prepared to solve a wide array of medical staff services challenges.

www.hcmarketplace.com • 800/650-6787

See for yourself at: www.CredentialingResourceCenter.com

20

/

SYNERGY S eptember/O ctO ber 2012
http://www.hcmarketplace.com http://www.CredentialingResourceCenter.com http://www.hcmarketplace.com
Synergy - September/October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Synergy - September/October 2012
