Hospital Practice News

Weigh in on AMA policy proposals from AMA-OMSS

All members of the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) are invited to submit online comments on AMA-OMSS resolutions through the AMA-OMSS online "reference committee" forum (AMA login required).

Testimony submitted online will be considered for the preliminary reference committee report, which will be prepared in advance of the AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting. The preliminary report will serve as the basis for extraction and discussion at the traditional on-site reference committee meeting, which will take place June 14 during the AMA-OMSS meeting.

The online "reference committee" forum will be open until June 3. Physicians also can comment on other proposed AMA policy reports and resolutions in a separate online forum (AMA login required). Learn more about it.

Doctors have love-hate relationship with EHRs

Many likes and dislikes about electronic health records (EHR) are consistent in the physician community, and a story by American Medical News explores some of what doctors love and hate about implementing EHRs.

The "loves," physicians told American Medical News, include more thorough documentation, improved charge captures and data retrieval that's easier and more customizable. The "hates" include the fact that EHRs don't guarantee any gain in productivity, data is sometimes hard to find in some EHRs and the number of steps, or clicks, it sometimes takes to complete a task.

Physicians can view an education program titled "How to Evaluate and Select an Office IT System," a webcast offered by the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS). View other webcasts from the AMA-OMSS.

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.

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.

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.

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 $30 per credit hour. If you're not an AMA member, join today.

AMA offers expert guidance to employed physicians

Two new resources from the AMA aim to meet the unique needs of physicians who maintain employment or contractual relationships with hospitals, health systems and other entities.

The AMA's Physician Assistance Service answers physicians' questions and provides advice on physician-hospital issues such as employment and contracting, medical staff bylaws, credentialing, peer review, due process and medical staff self-governance. While the AMA cannot provide legal opinions or representation, it can provide assistance to physicians in matters pertaining to their relationships with hospitals, health systems, and other similar entities.

The AMA also has updated its physician employment Web page to highlight a wide range of AMA resources for physicians who are employed or considering employment.