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The Physician Behavior/Patient Safety Connection – Does Any Doubt Remain?

Introduction

The Physician Behavior/Patient Safety Connection – Does Any Doubt Remain?

Not very long ago, hospitals tolerated behavior from physicians and other caregivers that was not tolerated in any other workplace.

But there has been a complete sea change regarding behavior and patient safety, and this change is reflected in the actions of the medical community and specialty societies, accrediting organizations, and the courts.

During this webinar, participants will review the essential elements of a good Medical Staff Professionalism Policy, as well as what Medical Staff review approaches work best for dealing with behavior…and which do not.  We will also review those performance improvement interventions that are effective for addressing behavior concerns…which are different from those generally used to address purely clinical concerns.

As part of the webinar, the unique legal risks associated with sexual harassment will be discussed, as well as the growing trend of physicians who exhibit inappropriate behavior claiming “whistleblower” protection!

Certification

This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of CME Credit by the University of Pittsburgh. Credits will be issued through March 18, 2015.

Educational Objectives:

  • Identify the critical steps that should be taken prior to a collegial intervention
  • Define the optimal personnel, location and timing for the collegial intervention
  • Describe how to follow up with individuals who have reported concerns about  a practitioner
  • Plan how to follow up with the practitioner after the collegial intervention

Registration

Pricing:

Single hospital webinar session purchase: $595

Webinar Recording: $595 (includes on-demand video recording as well as all of the supplemental documents)

Single hospital webinar series purchase: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Series Recordings: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Participants Will Receive:

  • PIP Implementation Issues Checklist – Options For Conduct Concerns that highlights the range of options available to address behavior concerns, as well as the practical and operational details that must be addressed for each of the options to be successful;
  • Standardized Reporting Form that promotes the reporting of behavior incidents in an objective, non-emotional, complete manner, which allows those incidents to be fully and effectively investigated;
  • Letter to Respond to Individual Who Reports an Incident of Inappropriate Conduct that lets reporters know their concerns are being appropriately acted upon while avoiding the disclosure of confidential peer review information;
  • Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation Agreement that allows the practitioners involved in behavior incidents to fully participate in the review process along with the physician leaders, and prevents retaliation against individuals who may have reported a concern;
  • Release Language for Application for Medical Staff Appointment and Reappointment that offers an additional layer of legal protection to physician leaders; and
  • Slides used during the webinar.

Conflicts of Interest: Keeping the “Peer” in “Peer Review”

Introduction

Conflicts of Interest: Keeping the “Peer” in “Peer Review”

Physician leaders are rightly concerned about avoiding conflicts of interest.  Fairness is critical to encourage confidence in the process and minimize legal risks.  But it is also critical that peers participate in credentialing and professional practice evaluation review activities for them to be meaningful and effective.  Whether and how an individual can participate must be evaluated reasonably, taking into consideration common sense and objective principles of fairness.

The “traditional” approach to managing conflicts of interest that is used by most Medical Staffs simply does not work!  Having busy physicians attempt to apply their day-to-day, case-specific facts to general legal principles articulated by lawyers is the ticket to inconsistency, frustration, and legal trouble.  Join us for this webinar and adopt an entirely new approach to conflicts of interest that manages these difficult situations in a practical, consistent, and fair manner.

Certification

This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of CME Credit by the University of Pittsburgh. Credits will be issued through April 2, 2015. NAMSS Credit is also available.

Educational Objectives:

  • Describe why the traditional approach to conflicts of interests in peer review doesn’t work.
  • Define the types of conflicts of interest that exist in peer review
  • Determine when these conflicts of interest require recusal
  • Develop a plan to document and manage conflicts of interest

Registration

Pricing:

Single hospital webinar session purchase: $595

Webinar Recording: $595 (includes on-demand video recording as well as all of the supplemental documents)

Single hospital webinar series purchase: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Series Recordings: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Participants Will Receive:

  • Conflict of Interest Guidelines/Matrix that lists each of the most common types of conflicts of interest that arise in credentialing and peer review activities (e.g., competitor, partner, friend, participant in care, raised concern, history of conflict, etc.) and offers specific advice about whether such individuals may participate in the peer review process at various levels (e.g., by providing information, acting as an individual case reviewer, serving as a member of the Credentials Committee, a peer review committee, an ad hoc investigating committee, the MEC, a hearing panel,  or the Board).
  • Policy or Bylaws Language regarding conflicts of interest that describes  the Conflict of Interest Guidelines and provides additional guidance on how to address conflicts and the related issues that arise, such as appropriate rules for recusal and how to document conflicts; and
  • Slides used during the webinar.

Eliminate Scoring! Focus on Performance Improvement Plans for Clinical Concerns!

Introduction

Eliminate Scoring! Focus on Performance Improvement Plans for Clinical Concerns!

The “Peer Review” world for addressing clinical concerns is changing dramatically – and for the better!  Performance improvement plans (“PIPs”) are now commonly used to keep patients safe and help physicians constructively address clinical issues.  A wide range of PIP options are available to you – physician leaders are limited only by their creativity in developing solutions to help their colleagues improve.

As brief examples, concerns about the medical necessity of a physician’s procedures could be addressed by having the physician develop checklists with appropriate indications for the procedure, while concerns about a knowledge deficit could be addressed by having a physician review the medical literature and present a grand round on the topic.

However, a PIP that would otherwise be effective in theory will almost always fail if it’s not properly implemented.  The devil is in the detail!   Join us and review those details!

Certification

This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of CME Credit by the University of Pittsburgh. Credits will be issued through May 12, 2015.

Educational Objectives:

  • Describe the key elements to developing effective performance improvement plans for clinical concerns
  • Describe legal protections and outline responsibilities of practitioners who will provide second opinions/consultations or act as proctors within the professional practice evaluation process
  • Describe how confidential peer review information can be safely shared without risking a waiver of the peer review privilege.

Registration

Pricing:

Single hospital webinar session purchase: $595

Webinar Recording: $595 (includes on-demand video recording as well as all of the supplemental documents)

Single hospital webinar series purchase: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Series Recordings: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Participants Will Receive:

  • PIP Implementation Issues Checklist – Options for Clinical Concerns –that highlights the practical and operational details that must be addressed for the PIPs that are used most often for clinical concerns;
  • Review Forms for Medical, Surgical and OB/GYN Cases, to help ensure reviewers look at the right things whenever it is necessary to perform a focused, detailed review of a colleague’s care;
  • Second Opinion/Consultation Worksheet and Cover Letter to Physicians Providing Second Opinions, to ensure that they know the rules and consistently document valuable information;
  • Letter to Physicians Who Will Serve as Proctors, to ensure that they understand their responsibilities;
  • Authorization and Release for Disclosure of Confidential Information, to allow a hospital and its physician leaders to exchange peer review information with individuals or organizations who will be assessing a physician’s clinical skills; and
  • Slides used during the webinar.

Collegial Intervention: Awkward and Uncomfortable – but Effective!

Introduction

Collegial Intervention: Awkward and Uncomfortable – but Effective!

When addressing a clinical concern, a behavior concern, or just a colleague’s reluctance to follow the rules of modern hospital practice, collegial intervention is one of the most important tools of a physician leader.  Done correctly, sitting down and talking with a physician can constructively resolve many issues that arise.  But collegial intervention requires a great deal of preparation and can be difficult to do successfully, especially for new leaders.  It is an acquired skill.  Even experienced physician leaders would benefit from tools that help them prepare for, conduct, and follow-up on a collegial intervention.

Certification

This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of CME Credit by the University of Pittsburgh. Credits will be issued through March 18, 2015.

Educational Objectives:

  • Identify the critical steps that should be taken prior to a collegial intervention
  • Define the optimal personnel, location and timing for the collegial intervention
  • Describe how to follow up with individuals who have reported concerns about  a practitioner
  • Plan how to follow up with the practitioner after the collegial intervention

Registration

Pricing:

Single hospital webinar session purchase: $595

Webinar Recording: $595 (includes on-demand video recording as well as all of the supplemental documents)

Single hospital webinar series purchase: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Series Recordings: $1,895 (Discounted by $485 if you sign up for all 4.)

Participants Will Receive:

  • Collegial intervention checklist to track the major issues that must be addressed in any effective collegial intervention, from planning to follow-up;
  • Template follow-up letter to collegial intervention that ensures the meeting is documented in a way that helps the physician under review, facilitates future interventions if they are necessary, and also protects the physician leader if the need arises;
  • Policy on Practitioner Access to Confidential Files that grants Medical Staff members access to the various different types of information about them in their files – but in an appropriate manner;
  • Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation Agreement that helps to preserve the peer review privilege for confidential information and files – and prevent retaliation against individuals who may have reported a concern; and
  • Slides used during the webinar.

Peer Review Best Practices Webinar Series

Introduction

Peer Review Best Practices Webinar Series

What works with peer review? What doesn’t?
Click here to find out why Paul Verardi thinks hospitals and physician leaders need a whole new set of tools to do it right.

Join Paul Verardi and Phil Zarone for this unique four-part webinar series on Peer Review Best Practices and take advantage of the experience, wisdom, and sometimes painful lessons of generations of physician leaders.  Yes, it’s possible! Effective and constructive peer review can be done!

How are these webinars different from others?

Paul and Phil – faculty of Horty Springer’s Peer Review Clinic – work with physician leaders on a daily basis to find practical solutions to their problems.

For each session, they will offer their perspectives and “from-the-trenches” tips and recommendations.  But they will also provide and review experience-tested template letters, checklists, forms, and policies that will save you hours of time and help you promote patient safety and quality care while assisting your colleagues to be successful.

Get your Medical Staff and Hospital on track.   Join Paul and Phil for:

Certification

Each webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of CME Credit by the University of Pittsburgh. Credit is only available to those who participate in the live activity. NAMSS Credit is also available.

Registration

Pricing:

Single hospital webinar series purchase: $1,895

Series Recordings: $1,895