| You
are probably familiar with The Joint Commission For the Accreditation
of Health Care Organizations. Most hospitals worry about JCAHO
regularly scheduled vistis approximately every three years.
What is almost unknown is that JCAHO recently adopted a regulation
in 2001 that tries to prevent ill physicians from being treated
punitively. Instead they require the illness be recognized,
diagnosed, and corrected.
MS.2.6
The medical staff implements a process to identify and manage
matters of individual physician health that is separate from
the medical staff disciplinary function.
Intent of MS.2.6 An organization has an obligation to protect
patients from harm. In this regard, the medical staff and
organization leaders design a process that provides education
about physician health, addresses prevention of physical,
psychiatric, or emotional illness, and facilitates confidential
diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physicians who
suffer from a potentially impairing condition. The purpose
of the process is assistance and rehabilitation, rather than
discipline, to aid a physician in retaining or regaining optimal
professional functioning, consistent with protection of patients.
If at any time during the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation
phase of the process it is determined that a physician is
unable to safely perform the privileges he or she has been
granted, the matter is forwarded to medical staff leadership
for appropriate corrective action that includes strict adherence
to any state or federally mandated reporting requirements.
This is not a well recognized statue in all quarters. It's
importance is that if health issues are involved, the physician
needs to be diagnosed and treated. The physicain should not
end up in a battle for other reasons, or incur a punitive
action.
The JCAHO provides a number of other regulations about records,
and processes that can affect the relationship between the
hospital and yourself in a tense interaction, due to malpractice
suits, illness, or other matters. It is wise to study their
manual if this applies to you.
General Site
http://www.jcaho.org/
Contact Information
http://www.jcaho.org/contact+us/index.htm
Complaints
http://www.jcaho.org/general+public/public+input/report+a+complaint/index.htm
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