Hospital Practice News

Apply by May 14 for OMSS Governing Council seats

Elections for the 2012–2014 AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) Governing Council will take place June 15 in Chicago during this year's AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting. Applications are due May 14; download one today.

Physicians or one or more representatives from their medical staff or other physician organization are invited to participate in the meeting, which will take place June 14–16. Visit the meeting Web page for more details, including information about submitting resolutions and opportunities to get involved.

View latest Joint Commission patient safety goals

A new catheter-associated urinary tract infection goal for the hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs is among the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals for this year. Visit the Joint Commission website to download a slide presentation about this year's National Patient Safety Goals.

Next AMA-OMSS representative call set for March 6

Find out about important and timely information regarding medical staffs and details about the upcoming AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) Annual Assembly Meeting by participating in the next AMA-OMSS representative quarterly call at 8 p.m. Eastern time March 6. Register today for the call.

Manual helps physicians with employment agreements

With more and more established physicians, as well as those completing training, becoming employees of hospitals, medical groups or affiliate organizations, it's important that they enhance their understanding and negotiating position as they navigate employment contracts and opportunities in these practice settings.

A manual from the AMA, the "Annotated Model Physician-Hospital Employment Agreement," can help. This resource addresses the specific needs of established physicians and those completing training who are preparing to negotiate an employment contract with a hospital or related entity.

"Doctors have got to protect themselves," said Jay Gregory, MD, chair of the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section Governing Council, in an American Medical News story about the manual. "Hopefully, this manual will provide physicians with a better understanding of their legal rights, and they will be able to go into situations with their eyes open."

AMA members can access the manual for free; nonmembers can purchase it through the AMA Bookstore. If you're not a member, join today.

OMSS education program webcasts available

Learn about reducing readmissions, improving patient safety, accountable care organizations and leadership by viewing online webcasts from the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section. Physicians can claim AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for watching the webcasts. Titles include:

• "Reducing the Readmission Rate in a Hospital" (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™)
• "From Statewide to Bedside Transformation" (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™)
• "An Update on Accountable Care Organizations" (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™)
• "Leadership in Healthcare: If Not Physicians, Then Who?" (2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™)

AMA members can view these webcasts for free; nonmembers can watch them for $75 each. If you're not an AMA member, join today.

The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.