Introduction
=========================================================================

• The medical staff of a hospital or health care institution is responsible for establishing, monitoring, assessing and ensuring compliance with standards for professional quality and performance
• The medical staff organization is responsible for appointing and re-appointing the institution's professional staff and for delineating the privileges of each appointee
• In many instance, the medical staff is also responsible for establishing and maintaining an educational program for its members
• Much of the work of the medical staff is performed through committees such as Infection Control, Transfusion, Tissue and the Executive Committee
• It is essential for pathologists to become active and to assume leadership positions in the medical staff organization

Prerequisites
=========================================================================

1. Communication skills
2. Read the medical staff By-Laws and Policies; be aware of the structure and hierarchies of the medical staff organization
3. Volunteer for service on committees, especially those in your area of expertise
4. Volunteer to chair committees, but first know how to conduct and chair a meeting
5. Volunteer to present educational programs, but first know how to give a talk

Some Things to Do
=========================================================================

• Cheerfully accept any committee assignment
• Request assignment to specific committees, e.g., tumor board, infection control, transfusion, tissue committee and volunteer to chair the committee
• Participate in Medical Staff oversight functions such as Utilization review, peer review, performance measurement and outcomes research
• Present educational programs, such as CPC's and organ recitals
• Contribute to, or edit, the medical staff newsletter
• Establish periodic conferences with clinicians regarding appropriate use of the laboratory
• Participate in Medical Staff social events, e.g., dances, golf tournaments

Additional references
=========================================================================

• "How to Conduct a Meeting" Appendix 2.3, Pages 29-30 and "How to Give a Talk" Appendix 2.4, Pages 30-31 in Wagar, EA, Horowitz RE and Siegal GS, Laboratory Administration for Pathologists, CAP Press. 2011

This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.

All information on this website is protected by copyright of PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at copyrightPathOut@gmail.com with any questions (click here for other contact information).