Hospital Practice News

Applications due May 16 for AMA-OMSS 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 16; 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.

Guide can help physicians draft bylaws for medical staff

Medical staffs looking to draft or amend bylaws can use the fifth edition of the AMA's "Physician's Guide to Medical Staff Organization Bylaws." This valuable reference manual contains bylaws language that supports self-governance, addresses Joint Commission standard MS.01.01.01 and offers guidance on emerging issues in health care that impact the medical staff. AMA members have free access to the guide. If you're not a member, join today.

Register today for next AMA-OMSS meeting

Attend this year's AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) Annual Assembly Meeting, which will take place June 14–16 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Registration is due June 7; log in and register today.

Late resolutions are due by 5 p.m. Eastern time June 13 and will require a two-thirds vote of the AMA-OMSS Assembly to be considered. Submit late resolutions via email to Keith Voogd of the AMA. Learn more about writing and submitting resolutions.

The meeting will take place prior to the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. Learn more about the Annual Meeting.

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.

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

Earn CME by viewing new education program webcasts

Learn about physician leadership, engaging members of the medical staff to improve quality and the future of the medical staff organization by viewing new webcasts from the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section. Physicians can claim continuing medical education (CME) credit for watching the webcasts. Titles include:

• "Doing the right thing for our patients: leading as a professional" (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™)
• "Engaging members of the medical staff to measure and improve quality" (1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™)
• "Future of the medical staff: strategies for re-engineering governance and operations to advance clinical and strategic imperatives" (1.25 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.