Supporting Safer Healthcare

The January issue of Vanity Fair features an article by Buzz Bissinger about Mark Weinberger, an Indiana surgeon who spent three years in the Italian Alps evading millions of dollars in debt, family problems, and more than 350 malpractice suits. Evidence presented in the malpractice cases claims that Dr. Weinberger defrauded insurance companies and injured patients by recommending and performing [...]

I recently had the pleasure of working on a consulting project with Buchanan & Associates Consulting.  Lynn, and the consultants who work with her, have a wealth of knowledge about the ever-changing field of medical staff services.  This post is to help spread the word that the BAC web site recently moved to a new location on the web and can now be found at   [...]

The Happy Hospitalist is not so happy at the moment. What has stirred up Dr. Happy’s inner curmudgeon?  Physician Credentialing. As my experience is on the other side of that particular desk, I’ve excerpted a few portions of his recent post on the topic, and added some commentary below. “For physicians to do a hospital admission [...]

The Ugly Truth About Credentialing and Privileging was recently featured in the May/June 2009 issue of Synergy, the journal of the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS).  Since many people have asked about it, here it is again – enjoy! —————————————-  The Ugly Truth About Credentialing & Privileging - Part I Dear Doctor: If you’ve been a practicing physician for [...]

They’re tired, frustrated, and verging dangerously close to hopeless.  They’re also bright, dedicated, and desperately needed.   Who are they?  Physicians.  In particular primary care physicians, although their more specialized brethren aren’t lagging far behind. It’s no longer news that many doctors want to leave the practice of medicine.  The ever-increasing complexity and volume of mandatory regulations, requirements, and expectations takes an enormous toll on body, mind, [...]

Patient dies after surgery by doctor without credentials.  So reads a headline from ABC News in Queensland Australia.  The article, complete with a photo of the hospital, goes on to to state that the Ethical Standards Unit, the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Medical Board are investigating. The investigation has revealed that Queensland Health has been [...]

  It happens so fast. A sudden squeal of tires, an explosion of glass fragments, and you find yourself visiting an Emergency Department, perhaps far from home.  As you lay on the narrow gurney observing various strangers hurry past, a woman in a white lab coat approaches, smiles reassuringly and says, “Hello, I’m Dr. Smith, [...]

A recent news report revealed that a U.S. hospital has received conditional accreditation from the  Joint Commission after a survey found 10 or more requirements for improvement. The hospital has 45 days to submit an action plan to solve the issues, and will have a follow-up survey in about six months. The Joint Commission survey apparently revealed deficiencies in [...]

A light-hearted look at the serious subject of provider credentialing… Stress; how many times have you used that word recently? As the role of Medical Staff Service Professionals dramatically changes, stress inevitably and unceremoniously barges into our working lives. We all agree that stress can be positive; it’s a natural result of change, and change [...]