Hospital Credentials Action and Due Process: A Framework for Fairness.
Abstract
During the past two decades, economic and social pressures have produced significant changes in the delivery of health care in the United States. Hospitals, in particular, have experienced a dramatic evolution in their responsibilities. Court rulings in the 1960s, that hospital governing bodies have the duty to monitor health care and prevent harm to patients, have received broad judicial acceptance.1 Legislative, executive and professional recognition of this duty followed and is today evidenced by state licensure statutes, Medicare and Medicaid regulations and the standards of the joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. No longer seen as simply providing working space for physicians, hospitals are now expected to be active participants in the effort to provide only quality health care. To meet this obligation, hospitals must have a well conceived, effective system of selecting, monitoring and disciplining medical staff members. This is a function of the physician credentialing process. Adverse credentials action, usually in the form of a denial, limitation, suspension or revocation of privileges, is a critical component of hospital quality assurance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA173759
Entities
People
- William H. Archambault
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School