A Peer Review System for Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Abstract
This paper was the result of a study conducted at Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas to define and implement a comprehensive peer review system which was prompted by the recent revision and amplification of earlier standards of accreditation for hospitals by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH). Departmental monthly review of facets of patient care and hospital utilization has become mandatory, increasing requirements for documentation and interdepartmental consolidation reports. Under Social Security Administration Medicare reimbursement provisions, P.L. 89-75, participating hospitals must employ and document a peer review system satisfactory to the JCAH; other third party payors are also requiring this evidence of medical audit to control ever-rising costs of health care and to justify necessary cost increases. The present system of approximately ten multidisciplinary committees of the Medical Staff constitutes a peer review, but does not include departmental review documentation. It was difficult, under the present system, to present a consolidated comprehensive peer review report to examiners of the JCAH, Blue Cross, other third party payors, or governmental agencies. A different peer review system, effectively used for over ten years by voluntary hospitals of similar size, has been presented. Departmental monthly meetings document, by agenda and appendixes, the ten or more major areas of interest as subcommittees; when consolidated by the department chiefs comprising the (Main) Peer Review Committee, a comprehensive monthly report is available for all authorized examiners. Other hospitals by documenting departmental activities in this manner, have reduced or consolidated the professional committees of the Medical Staff from twenty-three to seven, retaining full approval of the JCAH. Conservation of professional time is also facilitated; improvement of patient care with continuing medical education is stimulated by departmental conferences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD1203897
Entities
People
- Arren C. Buchanan
Organizations
- Houston Methodist Hospital