By: Ramona Thomas
The Credentialing Resource Center Journal, which is a go-to source for privileging white papers and medical staff credentialing guidance, recently published an article on group-based peer review (as opposed to hospital-based peer review/professional practice evaluation). The article helps to highlight the differences between legal/regulatory requirements and “best practices.” Effective peer review helps to protect against claims of negligent credentialing and works toward achieving risk management and patient safety goals.
In many states, including Florida, licensed facilities, including hospitals, are required to conduct peer review in order to ensure that the facility’s medical staff includes only competent, well-qualified practitioners. In Florida, the same requirement is not currently imposed on organized physician practice groups. However, the fact that a group does not have to conduct peer review doesn’t necessarily mean that it should not. Establishing a group-based peer review process can help foster mutual accountability and cooperation between hospitals or health systems and physician groups.
