Take this Quick and Easy Quiz to See If You Might Be a “Disruptive Physician”

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
I often have consultations with and represent physicians from across the country who are in trouble with their hospital medical staff or their licensing board because a complaint has been filed against them alleging they are a “disruptive physician.” This is often the result of an alienated member of the nursing staff or even an economic competitor trying to make trouble for or get rid of the physician.

A disruptive physician is one whose “obnoxious” behavior upsets patients or other staff members. The American Medical Association defines this in its Code of Medical Ethics as “personal conduct, whether verbal or physical, that negatively affects or that potentially may affect patient care.” This type of behavior is disfavored in hospitals and health systems because it is thought to negatively affect patient care by decreasing morale, teamwork, collaboration and communication among health professionals.

The Joint Commission Gets Involved.

Starting in 2008 the Joint Commission began urging hospitals to incorporate provisions to rein in disruptive behavior in the hospitals by physicians. The Joint Commission started requiring hospitals in 2009 to have a written code of conduct addressing the issue. This code of conduct must define acceptable, disruptive, and unacceptable behavior in the workplace, the latter two of which are usually lumped together.

Take This Quiz to See if You Are a “Disruptive Physician.”

Having represented physicians in hearings before medical staff peer review committees, resident physicians before academic conduct committees and appeal review committees, and physicians in hearings before the board of medicine, I have put together the following quiz from the types of misconduct such bodies use to denote a “disruptive physician.”

DISRUPTIVE PHYSICIAN QUIZ

Check “Yes” or “No” for each statement or question. Each “Yes” answer counts for one (1) point.

 

Add up all your “yes” answers above and see where you fall on the following chart:

SCORE
0 to 1 You are not a disruptive physician. You may be dead, however.
2 to 32 You may be a disruptive physician.

Although the quiz above is tongue-in-cheek, all of the questions or statements on it come from actual cases where a physician had to defend himself or herself against charges that they were a “disruptive physician.”

Legal Defenses To Disruptive Physician Charges.

Allegations against a physician for “disruptive behavior” are often vague and impossible to properly defend. It is imperative that if such charges are made against you, you obtain legal counsel who can get involved right away. Such vague, subjective allegations often are relatively easy to defend against, when the true facts are ascertained.

In the case of Fahlen v. Sutter Central Valley Hosp., 58 Cal. 4th 655 (2014), the physician’s hospital clinical privileges were terminated because of a claim of disruptive behavior. The California Supreme Court reversed the hospital’s decision and allowed the physician the right to proceed with a whistleblower case alleging substandard nursing care by the hospital’s nursing staff and the presence of risk to patient safety. In effect, the Court ruled that the doctor was merely a valid whistleblower complaining about quality of care issues. There are similar cases from other jurisdictions.

One can defend such a case by showing that the doctor’s actions are objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Other times you may have a defense you can show because an economic competitor is filing complaints or causing them to be filed against you. Sometimes complaints are generated by hospital staff as a result of a physician’s complaining about incompetent nursing staff or lack of proper equipment. In some cases, we have seen a single nurse generate enough animosity towards a physician so as to have charged with being disruptive.

Read one of my past blogs titled, “Disruptive Physicians: Nobody Likes a Nuisance” to learn more about this topic.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Investigations of Health Professionals and Providers.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in accusations of disruptive behavior, Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, FBI investigations, Medicare investigations, Medicaid investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.

To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Physician representation, hospital, and medical staff peer review hearings, representation for medical staff fair hearings, medical board representation, Professionals Resource Network (PRN) legal representation, “physician health program” and peer assistance representation, PRN attorney, representation for peer review hearings, disruptive physician representation, disruptive physician defense lawyer, peer review defense attorney, Board of Nursing representation, Board of Pharmacy representation, Board of Medicine representation, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, representation for board matters, healthcare board representation, representation for healthcare professionals, physician defense lawyer, medical license defense, healthcare license defense, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2020 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

 

 

Tips to Prepare For Clinical Privileges and Peer Review Hearings Part 2 of 2

Attorney Indest headshotBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
In Part 1 of this blog, I began a list of tips that should serve you well if you are notified by your hospital or medical staff that you are the subject of internal or external peer review hearings.

20 Tips For Successful Outcome in Peer Review Hearings (Continued):

10. If you are given the opportunity to meet with the reviewers or provide information to them, do so. If you haven’t been offered this, ask for it in writing.

11. Make sure any written response is provided in a typewritten letter formal not via e-mail, text or YouTube posting or handwritten note.

12. In your written statement or response, if you use any abbreviations, spell them out completely the first time you use them and place the abbreviation after, in parentheses. Remember, future reviews of your statement may not be physicians (e.g., a judge) or may not be in your medical specialty.

13. It is never too early to engage experienced health car legal counsel to assist you in such matters. But if you do, make sure you do hire an actual health law attorney who has experience with medical staff peer review hearings. This is no place for a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, a criminal defense attorney or your tax, or business lawyer.

14. If you find out that your matter is being sent out to an external peer review organization you should retain an experienced health law attorney immediately and obtain your own medical expert review.

15. If the care being examined involved another physician as well as you, or if the care was of a patient referred by another physician, see if that physician supports the care you provided and will provide you a letter or statement saying that.

16. If the allegation being reviewed involves facts that you know are not true, see if you can obtain evidence of this. For example, I had a case where nursing staff filed a complaint against my client a male OB/GYN claiming that the mother of a minor female patient had demanded that her daughter only be examined by a female doctor. We are able to obtain an affidavit from the mother swearing that she had never stated that. The peer review matter was dismissed and closed.

17. If it appears that you are being targeted for repeated peer review complaints or investigations, it is time to get out of that place. Read the handwriting on the wall. However, see #1 above. Do not resign with any type of peer review pending.

18. Remember that peer review proceedings are supposed to be confidential. Therefore work through your legal counsel in obtaining outside reviews. Do not discuss the matter with those outside the medical staff.

19. Although the peer-review process is confidential, it is not supposed to be “secretive.” The person who is the subject of peer review should have access to the complaint and medical records involved. This should not be a Star Chamber proceeding. Make a polite written request for copies of such materials or to be allowed to review them and make notes.

20. In many cases, you may find that you did make a mistake, violate a policy or procedure, skip a step in an algorithm, fall below the standard of care, or otherwise screw up. Except in cases of the most egregious situations, your best course o action may be to admit this, explain how this happened, and outline steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen again. This is especially true when it is your first “offense” and you have many years of otherwise excellent performance. The medical staff usually wants to make sure that when a mistake occurs, the health provider has the ability to recognize it and learn from it.

Follow These Tips for The Best Results in a Peer Review Matter.

If you follow these tips, you have the best chance of coming out of the peer review without problems. However, in a really serious case, where many records are being reviewed and the allegations appear to be very serious, then it is most important to retain an experienced health care attorney at the earliest opportunity and take that attorney’s advice. You will be in for the fight of your professional life.

Click here to read Part 1 of this Blog.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Review Hearings.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm, we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers, and acquisitions. We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer-review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians, health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Tips to Prepare For Clinical Privileges and Peer Review Hearings Part 2

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
In Part 1 of this blog, I began a list of tips that should serve you well if you are notified by your hospital or medical staff that you are the subject of an internal or external peer review action.

Click here to read Part 1.

20 Tips For Successful Outcome in Peer Review (Continued):

10. If you are given the opportunity to meet with the reviewers or provide information to them, do so. If you haven’t been offered this, ask for it in writing.

11. Make sure any written response is provided in a typewritten letter formal not via e-mail, text or YouTube posting or handwritten note.

12. In your written statement or response, if you use any abbreviations, spell them out completely the first time you use them and place the abbreviation after, in parentheses. Remember, future reviews of your statement may not be physicians (e.g., a judge) or may not be in your medical specialty.

13. It is never too early to engage experienced health car legal counsel to assist you in such matters. But if you do, make sure you do hire an actual health law attorney who has experience with medical staff peer review actions. This is no place for a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, a criminal defense attorney or your tax, or business lawyer.

14. If you find out that your matter is being sent out to an external peer review organization you should retain an experienced health law attorney immediately and obtain your own medical expert review.

15. If the care being examined involved another physician as well as you, or if the care was of a patient referred by another physician, see if that physician supports the care you provided and will provide you a letter or statement saying that.

16. If the allegation being reviewed involves facts that you know are not true, see if you can obtain evidence of this. For example, I had a case where nursing staff filed a complaint against my client a male OB/GYN claiming that the mother of a minor female patient had demanded that her daughter only be examined by a female doctor. We are able to obtain an affidavit from the mother swearing that she had never stated that. The peer review matter was dismissed and closed.

17. If it appears that you are being targeted for repeated peer review complaints or investigations, it is time to get out of that place. Read the handwriting on the wall. However, see #1 above. Do not resign with any type of peer review pending.

18. Remember that peer review proceedings are supposed to be confidential. Therefore work through your legal counsel in obtaining outside reviews. Do not discuss the matter with those outside the medical staff.

19. Although the peer-review process is confidential, it is not supposed to be “secretive.” The person who is the subject of peer review should have access to the complaint and medical records involved. This should not be a Star Chamber proceeding. Make a polite written request for copies of such materials or to be allowed to review them and make notes.

20. In many cases, you may find that you did make a mistake, violate a policy or procedure, skip a step in an algorithm, fall below the standard of care, or otherwise screw up. Except in cases of the most egregious situations, your best course o action may be to admit this, explain how this happened, and outline steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen again. This is especially true when it is your first “offense” and you have many years of otherwise excellent performance. The medical staff usually wants to make sure that when a mistake occurs, the health provider has the ability to recognize it and learn from it.

Follow These Tips for The Best Results in a Peer Review Matter.

If you follow these tips, you have the best chance of coming out of the peer review without problems. However, in a really serious case, where many records are being reviewed and the allegations appear to be very serious, then it is most important to retain an experienced health care attorney at the earliest opportunity and take that attorney’s advice. You will be in for the fight of your professional life.

Click here to read Part 1 of this Blog.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review hearings, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm, we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers, and acquisitions. We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians, health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Tips to Prepare For Clinical Privileges and Peer Review Hearings Part 1

Attorney Indest headshotIf you are a physician or licensed other licensed health professional with clinical privileges in a hospital, chances are that one day you will be subject to peer review hearings. It may be a simple one-time matter based on an adverse outcome, or it may be a lengthy process involving a large number or your cases and records.

A peer review action may be initiated because of a patient complaint. It may be commenced because of complaints filed by hospital staff. It may be begun because of an unexpected adverse outcome. It may be begun because a patient files a medical malpractice lawsuit. It may result from a statistical review by the Utilization Review office or the Quality Improvement office.

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog series. Click here to read part 2.

A Notice of A Peer Review Should Not Be Treated Lightly.

Regardless of the source, or how petty or meritless it may seem, the health professional who is the subject of the peer review must treat it seriously. The actions you take may resolve the matter at a preliminary stage or it may cause an escalation to a hearing, adverse action, and a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Report, with career-ending results.

Tips to Survive Peer Review Hearings.

The following are tips that the individual who is the subject of a peer review action that may help you to resolve it at the lowest level feasible under the circumstances.

1. Do not resign or allow your clinical privileges to expire while the matter is pending. If you do so, this will be treated similarly to having your privileges revoked in clinical privileges matters and it will be reported out as such to the NPDB and other reporting organizations.

2. Provide a response or explanation if given the opportunity. But make sure you have reviewed the records, researched the medical issues as appropriate, and provide a well-organized, thought-out, objective and professional response.

3. Remember that this review is only about you and your actions. It is not about anyone else and this is not the place to make accusations about others. Discuss what you did (or did not do); do not point the finger at others and argue that they have done the same thing or worse.

4. Remain objective. Do not lose your temper and respond in a defensive, inflammatory matter. Assume that everyone is just trying to do their jobs.

5. In any written response, address the facts. Do not address what you think the motives of other individuals are.

6. Make sure your response is objective. Try to avoid subjective statements. Speak in terms of provable facts and what the record or other documents show. If you have documents (e.g., office records, algorithms, standards, guidelines) that those conducting the peer review do not have, attach them to your response.

7. Make sure your response is professional. Follow the rules for professional correspondence, that I wrote about in a prior blog.

8. If you don’t have all of the records on the matter, ask for them. Also, obtain and review any applicable hospital or department policies and procedures. Review the medical staff Rules and Regulations, as well.

9. Support and explain what you did logically and reference medical journal articles and medical treatises. Attach legible copies of any relevant medical literature (or relevant portions of it). Be sure to completely identify any medical literature you attach by including a title page, publication info, date, volume, pages, etc.

To find out the rest of the tips, don’t miss Part 2 of this blog series.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review hearings, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in Clinical Privileges and the Peer Review Process.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions. We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer-review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians, health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 2 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In Part 1 of this blog I began a list of tips that should serve you well if you are notified by your hospital or medical staff that you are the subject of an internal or external peer review action. Click here to read Part 1.

20 Tips For Successful Outcome in Peer Review (Continued):

10.    If you are given the opportunity to meet with the reviewers or provide information to them, do so.  If you haven’t been offered this, ask for it in writing.

11.    Make sure any written response is provided in a typewritten letter formal not via e-mail, text or YouTube posting or handwritten note.

12.    In your written statement or response, if you use any abbreviations, spell them out completely the first time you use them and place the abbreviation after, in parentheses.  Remember, future reviews of your statement may not be physicians (e.g., a judge) or may not be in your medical specialty.

13.    It is never too early to engage experienced health car legal counsel to assist you in such matter.  But if you do, make sure you do hire an actual health law attorney who has experience with medical staff peer review actions.  This is no place for a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, a criminal defense attorney or your tax, or business lawyer.

14.    If you find out that your matter is being sent out to an external peer review organization you should retain an experienced health law attorney immediately and obtain your own medical expert review.

15.    If the care being examined involved another physician as well as you, or if the care was of a patient referred by another physician, see if that physician supports the care you provided and will provide you a letter or statement saying that.

16.    If the allegation being reviewed involves facts that you know are not true, see if you can obtain evidence of this.  For example, I had a case where nursing staff filed a complaint against my client a male OB/GYN claiming that the mother of a minor female patient had demanded that her daughter only be examined by a female doctor.  We are able to obtain an affidavit from the mother swearing that she had never stated that.  The peer review matter was dismissed and closed.

17.    If it appears that you are being targeted for repeated peer review complaints or investigations, it is time to get out of that place.  Read the handwriting on the wall.  However , see #1 above.  Do not resign with any type of peer review pending.

18.    Remember that peer review proceedings are supposed to be confidential.  Therefore work through your legal counsel in obtaining outside reviews.  Do not discuss the matter with those outside the medical staff.

19.    Although the peer review process is confidential, it is not supposed to be “secretive.”  The person who is the subject of peer review should have access to the complaint and medical records involved.  This should not be a Star Chamber proceeding.  Make a polite written request for copies of such materials or to be allowed to review them and make notes.

20.    In many cases, you may find that you did make a mistake, violate a policy or procedure, skip a step in an algorithm, fall below the standard of care, or otherwise screw up.  Except in cases of the most egregious situations, your best course o action may be to admit this, explain how this happened, and outline steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen again.  This is especially true when it is your first “offense” and you have many years of otherwise excellent performance.  The medical staff usually wants to make sure that when a mistake occurs, the health provider has the ability to recognize it and learn from it.

Follow These Tips for The Best Results in a Peer Review Matter.

If you follow these tips, you have the best chance of coming out of the peer review without problems.  However, in a really serious case, where many records are being reviewed and the allegations appear to be very serious, then it is most important to retain an experienced health care attorney at the earliest opportunity and take that attorney’s advice.  You will be in for the fight of your professional life.

Click here to read Part 1 of this Blog
.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.


Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.


About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 1 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical pharmacist, oral surgeon, ophthalmologist, or other licensed health professional with clinical privileges in a hospital, chances are that one day you will be subject to a peer review action or investigation.  It may be a simple one-time matter based on a patient complaint or adverse outcome, or it may be a lengthy process involving a large number or your cases and records.

A peer review action action may be initiated because of a patient complaint.  It may be commenced because of complaints filed by hospital staff.  It may be begun because of an unexpected adverse outcome.  It may be begun because a patient files s medical malpractice lawsuit.  It may result from a statistical review by the Utilization Review office or from the Quality Improvement office.

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog series. Click here to read part 2.

A Notice of A Peer Review Must Be Treated Seriously.

Regardless of the source, or how petty or meritless it may seem, the health professional who is the subject of the peer review must treat it seriously.  The actions you take may resolve the matter at a preliminary stage or it may cause an escalation to a hearing, adverse action, and a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Report, with career-ending results.


Tips to Survive Peer Review.

Following are tips that the individual who is the subject of a peer review action that may help you to resolve it at the lowest level feasible under the circumstances.

The following tips assume that you have been notified of an initial peer review matter ant the facts or subject being investigated.

1.    Do not resign or allow your clinical privileges to expire while the matter is pending. If you do so, this will be treated in a similar manner to having your privileges revoked in a clinical privileges matter and it will be reported out as such to the NPDB and other reporting organizations.

2.    Provide a response or explanation if given the opportunity.  But make sure you have reviewed the records, researched the medical issues as appropriate, and provide a well-organized, thought-out, objective and professional response.

3.    Remember that this review is only about you and your actions.  It is not about anyone else and this is not the place to make accusations about others.  Discuss what you did (or did not do);  do not point the finger at others and argue that they have done the same thing or worse.

4.    Remain objective.  Do not lose your temper and respond in a defensive, inflammatory matter.  Assume that everyone is just trying to do their jobs.

5.    In any written response, address the facts.  Do not address what you think the motives of other individuals are.

6.    Make sure your response is objective.  Try to avoid subjective statements.  Speak in terms of provable facts and what the record or other documents show.  If you have documents (e.g., office records, algorithms, standards, guidelines) that those conducting the peer review do not have, attach them to your response.

7.    Make sure your response is professional.  Follow the rules for professional correspondence, that I wrote about in a prior blog about this.  [Note:  Add link.]

8.    If you don’t have all of the records on the matter, ask for them.  Also, obtain and review any applicable hospital or department policies and procedures.  Review the medical staff Rules and Regulations, as well.

9.    Support and explain what you did logically and with reference to medical journal articles and medical treatises.  Attach legible copies of any relevant medical literature (or relevant portions of it).  Be sure to completely identify any medical literature you attach by including title page, publication info, date, volume, pages, etc.

I will continue these tips in Part 2 of this blog.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 1 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical pharmacist, oral surgeon, ophthalmologist, or other licensed health professional with clinical privileges in a hospital, chances are that one day you will be subject to a peer review action or investigation.  It may be a simple one-time matter based on a patient complaint or adverse outcome, or it may be a lengthy process involving a large number or your cases and records.

A peer review action action may be initiated because of a patient complaint.  It may be commenced because of complaints filed by hospital staff.  It may be begun because of an unexpected adverse outcome.  It may be begun because a patient files s medical malpractice lawsuit.  It may result from a statistical review by the Utilization Review office or from the Quality Improvement office.

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog series. Click here to read part 2.

A Notice of A Peer Review Must Be Treated Seriously.

Regardless of the source, or how petty or meritless it may seem, the health professional who is the subject of the peer review must treat it seriously.  The actions you take may resolve the matter at a preliminary stage or it may cause an escalation to a hearing, adverse action, and a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Report, with career-ending results.


Tips to Survive Peer Review.

Following are tips that the individual who is the subject of a peer review action that may help you to resolve it at the lowest level feasible under the circumstances.

The following tips assume that you have been notified of an initial peer review matter ant the facts or subject being investigated.

1.    Do not resign or allow your clinical privileges to expire while the matter is pending. If you do so, this will be treated in a similar manner to having your privileges revoked in a clinical privileges matter and it will be reported out as such to the NPDB and other reporting organizations.

2.    Provide a response or explanation if given the opportunity.  But make sure you have reviewed the records, researched the medical issues as appropriate, and provide a well-organized, thought-out, objective and professional response.

3.    Remember that this review is only about you and your actions.  It is not about anyone else and this is not the place to make accusations about others.  Discuss what you did (or did not do);  do not point the finger at others and argue that they have done the same thing or worse.

4.    Remain objective.  Do not lose your temper and respond in a defensive, inflammatory matter.  Assume that everyone is just trying to do their jobs.

5.    In any written response, address the facts.  Do not address what you think the motives of other individuals are.

6.    Make sure your response is objective.  Try to avoid subjective statements.  Speak in terms of provable facts and what the record or other documents show.  If you have documents (e.g., office records, algorithms, standards, guidelines) that those conducting the peer review do not have, attach them to your response.

7.    Make sure your response is professional.  Follow the rules for professional correspondence, that I wrote about in a prior blog about this.  [Note:  Add link.]

8.    If you don’t have all of the records on the matter, ask for them.  Also, obtain and review any applicable hospital or department policies and procedures.  Review the medical staff Rules and Regulations, as well.

9.    Support and explain what you did logically and with reference to medical journal articles and medical treatises.  Attach legible copies of any relevant medical literature (or relevant portions of it).  Be sure to completely identify any medical literature you attach by including title page, publication info, date, volume, pages, etc.

I will continue these tips in Part 2 of this blog.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 1 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical pharmacist, oral surgeon, ophthalmologist, or other licensed health professional with clinical privileges in a hospital, chances are that one day you will be subject to a peer review action or investigation.  It may be a simple one-time matter based on a patient complaint or adverse outcome, or it may be a lengthy process involving a large number or your cases and records.

A peer review action action may be initiated because of a patient complaint.  It may be commenced because of complaints filed by hospital staff.  It may be begun because of an unexpected adverse outcome.  It may be begun because a patient files s medical malpractice lawsuit.  It may result from a statistical review by the Utilization Review office or from the Quality Improvement office.

This is part 1 of a 2 part blog series. Click here to read part 2.

A Notice of A Peer Review Must Be Treated Seriously.

Regardless of the source, or how petty or meritless it may seem, the health professional who is the subject of the peer review must treat it seriously.  The actions you take may resolve the matter at a preliminary stage or it may cause an escalation to a hearing, adverse action, and a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Report, with career-ending results.


Tips to Survive Peer Review.

Following are tips that the individual who is the subject of a peer review action that may help you to resolve it at the lowest level feasible under the circumstances.

The following tips assume that you have been notified of an initial peer review matter ant the facts or subject being investigated.

1.    Do not resign or allow your clinical privileges to expire while the matter is pending. If you do so, this will be treated in a similar manner to having your privileges revoked in a clinical privileges matter and it will be reported out as such to the NPDB and other reporting organizations.

2.    Provide a response or explanation if given the opportunity.  But make sure you have reviewed the records, researched the medical issues as appropriate, and provide a well-organized, thought-out, objective and professional response.

3.    Remember that this review is only about you and your actions.  It is not about anyone else and this is not the place to make accusations about others.  Discuss what you did (or did not do);  do not point the finger at others and argue that they have done the same thing or worse.

4.    Remain objective.  Do not lose your temper and respond in a defensive, inflammatory matter.  Assume that everyone is just trying to do their jobs.

5.    In any written response, address the facts.  Do not address what you think the motives of other individuals are.

6.    Make sure your response is objective.  Try to avoid subjective statements.  Speak in terms of provable facts and what the record or other documents show.  If you have documents (e.g., office records, algorithms, standards, guidelines) that those conducting the peer review do not have, attach them to your response.

7.    Make sure your response is professional.  Follow the rules for professional correspondence, that I wrote about in a prior blog about this.  [Note:  Add link.]

8.    If you don’t have all of the records on the matter, ask for them.  Also, obtain and review any applicable hospital or department policies and procedures.  Review the medical staff Rules and Regulations, as well.

9.    Support and explain what you did logically and with reference to medical journal articles and medical treatises.  Attach legible copies of any relevant medical literature (or relevant portions of it).  Be sure to completely identify any medical literature you attach by including title page, publication info, date, volume, pages, etc.

I will continue these tips in Part 2 of this blog.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 2 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In Part 1 of this blog I began a list of tips that should serve you well if you are notified by your hospital or medical staff that you are the subject of an internal or external peer review action. Click here to read Part 1.

20 Tips For Successful Outcome in Peer Review (Continued):

10.    If you are given the opportunity to meet with the reviewers or provide information to them, do so.  If you haven’t been offered this, ask for it in writing.

11.    Make sure any written response is provided in a typewritten letter formal not via e-mail, text or YouTube posting or handwritten note.

12.    In your written statement or response, if you use any abbreviations, spell them out completely the first time you use them and place the abbreviation after, in parentheses.  Remember, future reviews of your statement may not be physicians (e.g., a judge) or may not be in your medical specialty.

13.    It is never too early to engage experienced health car legal counsel to assist you in such matter.  But if you do, make sure you do hire an actual health law attorney who has experience with medical staff peer review actions.  This is no place for a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, a criminal defense attorney or your tax, or business lawyer.

14.    If you find out that your matter is being sent out to an external peer review organization you should retain an experienced health law attorney immediately and obtain your own medical expert review.

15.    If the care being examined involved another physician as well as you, or if the care was of a patient referred by another physician, see if that physician supports the care you provided and will provide you a letter or statement saying that.

16.    If the allegation being reviewed involves facts that you know are not true, see if you can obtain evidence of this.  For example, I had a case where nursing staff filed a complaint against my client a male OB/GYN claiming that the mother of a minor female patient had demanded that her daughter only be examined by a female doctor.  We are able to obtain an affidavit from the mother swearing that she had never stated that.  The peer review matter was dismissed and closed.

17.    If it appears that you are being targeted for repeated peer review complaints or investigations, it is time to get out of that place.  Read the handwriting on the wall.  However , see #1 above.  Do not resign with any type of peer review pending.

18.    Remember that peer review proceedings are supposed to be confidential.  Therefore work through your legal counsel in obtaining outside reviews.  Do not discuss the matter with those outside the medical staff.

19.    Although the peer review process is confidential, it is not supposed to be “secretive.”  The person who is the subject of peer review should have access to the complaint and medical records involved.  This should not be a Star Chamber proceeding.  Make a polite written request for copies of such materials or to be allowed to review them and make notes.

20.    In many cases, you may find that you did make a mistake, violate a policy or procedure, skip a step in an algorithm, fall below the standard of care, or otherwise screw up.  Except in cases of the most egregious situations, your best course o action may be to admit this, explain how this happened, and outline steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen again.  This is especially true when it is your first “offense” and you have many years of otherwise excellent performance.  The medical staff usually wants to make sure that when a mistake occurs, the health provider has the ability to recognize it and learn from it.

Follow These Tips for The Best Results in a Peer Review Matter.

If you follow these tips, you have the best chance of coming out of the peer review without problems.  However, in a really serious case, where many records are being reviewed and the allegations appear to be very serious, then it is most important to retain an experienced health care attorney at the earliest opportunity and take that attorney’s advice.  You will be in for the fight of your professional life.

Click here to read Part 1 of this Blog
.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.


Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.


About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

20 Tips to Help You Survive Facing Peer Review for Your Hospital Clinical Privileges-Part 2 of 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In Part 1 of this blog I began a list of tips that should serve you well if you are notified by your hospital or medical staff that you are the subject of an internal or external peer review action. Click here to read Part 1.

20 Tips For Successful Outcome in Peer Review (Continued):

10.    If you are given the opportunity to meet with the reviewers or provide information to them, do so.  If you haven’t been offered this, ask for it in writing.

11.    Make sure any written response is provided in a typewritten letter formal not via e-mail, text or YouTube posting or handwritten note.

12.    In your written statement or response, if you use any abbreviations, spell them out completely the first time you use them and place the abbreviation after, in parentheses.  Remember, future reviews of your statement may not be physicians (e.g., a judge) or may not be in your medical specialty.

13.    It is never too early to engage experienced health car legal counsel to assist you in such matter.  But if you do, make sure you do hire an actual health law attorney who has experience with medical staff peer review actions.  This is no place for a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, a criminal defense attorney or your tax, or business lawyer.

14.    If you find out that your matter is being sent out to an external peer review organization you should retain an experienced health law attorney immediately and obtain your own medical expert review.

15.    If the care being examined involved another physician as well as you, or if the care was of a patient referred by another physician, see if that physician supports the care you provided and will provide you a letter or statement saying that.

16.    If the allegation being reviewed involves facts that you know are not true, see if you can obtain evidence of this.  For example, I had a case where nursing staff filed a complaint against my client a male OB/GYN claiming that the mother of a minor female patient had demanded that her daughter only be examined by a female doctor.  We are able to obtain an affidavit from the mother swearing that she had never stated that.  The peer review matter was dismissed and closed.

17.    If it appears that you are being targeted for repeated peer review complaints or investigations, it is time to get out of that place.  Read the handwriting on the wall.  However , see #1 above.  Do not resign with any type of peer review pending.

18.    Remember that peer review proceedings are supposed to be confidential.  Therefore work through your legal counsel in obtaining outside reviews.  Do not discuss the matter with those outside the medical staff.

19.    Although the peer review process is confidential, it is not supposed to be “secretive.”  The person who is the subject of peer review should have access to the complaint and medical records involved.  This should not be a Star Chamber proceeding.  Make a polite written request for copies of such materials or to be allowed to review them and make notes.

20.    In many cases, you may find that you did make a mistake, violate a policy or procedure, skip a step in an algorithm, fall below the standard of care, or otherwise screw up.  Except in cases of the most egregious situations, your best course o action may be to admit this, explain how this happened, and outline steps you are taking to make sure it does not happen again.  This is especially true when it is your first “offense” and you have many years of otherwise excellent performance.  The medical staff usually wants to make sure that when a mistake occurs, the health provider has the ability to recognize it and learn from it.

Follow These Tips for The Best Results in a Peer Review Matter.

If you follow these tips, you have the best chance of coming out of the peer review without problems.  However, in a really serious case, where many records are being reviewed and the allegations appear to be very serious, then it is most important to retain an experienced health care attorney at the earliest opportunity and take that attorney’s advice.  You will be in for the fight of your professional life.

Click here to read Part 1 of this Blog
.

For more information, read one of my prior blogs on peer review, avoiding the disruptive physician label and clinical privileges.


Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late, Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Process of Peer Reviews.

If you are the subject of a peer review proceeding, immediately retain experienced, knowledgeable health care counsel to represent you. The attorneys of The Health Law Firm have experience in most, if not all, types of “fair hearings” involving health care issues and health care providers.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for physicians and other health care providers. This includes nurse practitioners, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider. We represent facilities, individuals, groups and institutions in contracts, sales, mergers and acquisitions.  We also represent physicians and health care providers in complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.


About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.  He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice.  Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.  www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Legal representation for peer review, peer review defense attorney, medical staff peer review confidentiality, medical staff fair hearing legal representation, medical staff fair hearing attorney, clinical privileges hearing defense attorney, clinical privileges hearing legal representation, clinical privileges hearing attorney, legal counsel on peer review process, legal representation for physician defamation, health law defense attorney, economic credentialing, sham peer review attorney, health law peer review attorney, legal representation for peer review investigations, health care litigation legal counsel, complex health care litigation attorney, legal representation for health care employment issues, disruptive physician representation, legal representation for disruptive physicians,  health care employment defense attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

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