36C25518Q0329-002.pdf

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JOHN J. PERSHING VA MEDICAL CENTER

POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI

POLICY TITLE: Bylaws, Rules & Regulations SERVICE LINE: Chief of Staff

DEPARTMENT: Chief of Staff

POLICY RESOURCE PERSON: Chief of Staff EFFECTIVE DATE: December 9, 2015

REFERENCE NUMBER: PM 11-02 REVIEW DATE: December 9, 2018

l. PURPOSE. To set forth the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations approved and adopted by this hospital in accordance with standards of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Joint Commission.

2. POLICY. To insure the proper, efficient and effective functioning of the Medical Staff in providing the highest quality of medical services to persons entitled to care and treatment. The Medical Staff reports to and is accountable to Medical Center Leadership for oversight of care, treatment, and services provided by practitioners with privileges and provides for a uniform quality of patient care, treatment and services.

3. BYLAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. Bylaws, Rules and Regulations stating the policies under which the medical and dental staff regulates itself shall be adopted and approved by facility management and the Medical Staff. The rules and regulations are supplemented by Medical Center policies and procedures.

a. Bylaws and Medical Staff Rules. See Attachment A.

4. REFERENCE. VHA Handbook 1100.19; Joint Commission standards, VHA Handbook 5005, Staffing.

5. RECISION. Policy Memorandum No. 11-2 dated March 2011.

6. REVIEW. As necessary but no less than every three years.

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ATTACHMENT A

Bylaws and Rules of the Medical Staff

Of

Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Reviewed Date: July 22, 2015

Revised Date: July 22, 2015 iii

Table of Contents

PREAMBLE

DEFINITIONS

ARTICLE I: NAME 5

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE 5

ARTICLE III: MEDICAL STAFF MEMBERSHIP 6

Section 3.01 Eligibility for Membership on the Medical Staff 6 Section 3.02 Qualifications for Medical Staff Membership and Clinical Privileges 6 Section 3.03 Code of Conduct 8 Section 3.04 Conflict Resolution & Management 10

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDICAL STAFF 10

Section 4.01 Leaders 10 Section 4.02 Leadership 10 Section 4.03 Clinical Services 11

ARTICLE V: MEDICAL STAFF COMMITTEES 13

Section 5.01 General 13 Section 5.02 Executive Committee of the Medical Staff 14 Section 5.03 Committees of the Medical Staff 17 Section 5.04 Committee Records and Minutes 21 Section 5.05 Establishment of Committees 21

ARTICLE VI: MEDICAL STAFF MEETINGS 21

ARTICLE VII: APPOINTMENT AND ONGOING CREDENTIALING 22

Section 7.01 General Provisions 22 Section 7.02 Application Procedures 25 Section 7.03 Process and Terms of Appointment 28 Section 7.04 Credentials Evaluation and Maintenance 29 Section 7.05 Local/VISN-Level Compensation Panels 31

Article VIII: CLINICAL PRIVILEGES 31 Section 8.01 General Provisions 31 Section 8.02 Process and Requirements for Requesting Clinical Privileges 32 Section 8.03 Process and Requirements for Requesting Renewal of Clinical Privileges 34 Section 8.04 Processing an Increase or Modification of Privileges 35 Section 8.05 Recommendations and Approval for Renewal and Revision of Clinical Privileges 35 Section 8.06 Exceptions 37 Section 8.07 Medical Assessment 42

ARTICLE IX: INVESTMENT AND ACTION 42

Section 9.01 General 42

ARTICLE X: FAIR HEARING AND APPELLATE REVIEW 53

Section 10.01 Reduction of Privileges 53 Section 10.02 Revocation of Privileges 57

ARTICLE XI: RULES AND REGULATIONS 60

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS 60

ARTICLE XIII: ADOPTION 61

MEDICAL STAFF RULES

1 GENERAL 62

2 PATIENT RIGHTS 62

3 RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE 65

4 PHYSICIAN'S ORDERS 70

5 ROLE OF ATTENDING STAFF 72

6 MEDICAL RECORDS 73

7 INFECTION CONTROL 78

8 CONTINUING EDUCATION 78

9 HEALTH STATUS AND IMPAIRED PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM 78

10 PEER REVIEW 78

11 MASS CASUALTY 79

PREAMBLE

Recognizing that the Medical Staff is responsible for the quality of care delivered by its members and accountable to the Governing Body for all aspects of that care, the Medical Staff practicing at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri (hereinafter sometimes referred to as JJP VAMC) hereby organizes itself for self-governance in conformity with the laws, regulations and policies governing the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the bylaws and rules hereinafter stated. These Bylaws and Rules are consistent with all laws and regulations governing the VHA, and they do not create any rights or liabilities not otherwise provided for in laws or VHA Regulations.

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri provides primary medical, mental health, and Community Living Center services to Veterans residing in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) are located in Farmington, West Plains, Salem, Sikeston and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Pocahontas, AR and Paragould, AR. Specialized services include outpatient surgical, cardiology, chiropractic care, gastroenterology, urology, mental health services, dermatology, audiology, optometry, dental and alternative therapies.

Patients requiring higher level secondary or tertiary care are referred to VAMC, St. Louis, Missouri or other tertiary care Medical Centers or fee based to the community if eligibility requirements are met.

Portions of these bylaws are required by the VA, VHA, or The Joint Commission (TJC).

These sections should be maintained in accordance with all current regulations, standards or other applicable requirements. Prior versions of bylaws and rules and regulations must be maintained in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act which states that bylaws and rules are permanent records and should never be destroyed. They must be maintained in accordance with Record Control System (RCS) 10-1, 10Q.

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of these Bylaws, the following definitions shall be used:

1. Appointment: As used in this document, the term Appointment refers to appointment to the Medical Staff. It does not refer to appointment as a VA employee but is based on having an appropriate personnel appointment action, scarce medical specialty contract, or other authority to provide independent medical, Advanced Practice Professionals and/or patient care services at the facility. Both VA employees and contractors providing patient care services must receive appointments to the Medical Staff.

2. Associate Director: The Associate Director fulfills the responsibilities of the Director as defined in these bylaws when serving in the capacity of Acting Facility Director.

3. Associated Health Professional: As used in this document, the term “Associated Health Professional” is defined as those clinical professionals other than doctors of allopathic, dental, and osteopathic medicine. These professionals include, but are not limited to: Pharmacists (PharmDs), Psychologists, Podiatrists, and Optometrists.

Associated Health Professionals function under either defined clinical privileges or a defined scope of practice.

4. Automatic Suspension of Privileges: Suspensions that are automatically enacted whenever the defined indication occurs, and do not require discussion or investigation. Examples are exceeding the allowed medical record delinquency rate when such delinquency does not impact patient care or failure to maintain qualifications for appointment. Privileges are automatically suspended until the records are completed or the delinquency rate falls to an acceptable level.

Reactivation must be endorsed by the Medical Executive Committee.

5. Chief of Staff: The Chief of Staff is the President of the medical staff and Chairperson of the Medical Executive Committee and acts as full assistant to the Director in the efficient management of clinical and medical services to eligible patients, the active maintenance of a medical credentialing and privileging and/or scope of practice system for Licensed Independent Practitioners, Advanced Practice Professionals, and Associated Health Practitioners. The Chief of Staff ensures the ongoing medical education of medical staff.

6. Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC): A health care site (in a fixed location) that is geographically distinct or separate from the parent medical facility. A CBOC can be a site that is VA-operated and/or contracted. A CBOC must have the necessary professional medical staff, access to diagnostic testing and treatment capability, and the referral arrangements needed to ensure continuity of health care for currently and potentially eligible veteran patients. A CBOC must be operated in a manner that provides veterans with consistent, safe, high-quality health care, in accordance with VA policies and procedures.

7. Director (or Facility Director): The Director (sometimes called Chief Executive Officer) is appointed by the Governing Body to act as its agent in the overall management of the Facility. The Director is assisted by the Chief of Staff (COS), the Associate Director (AD), the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (AD-PCS), and the Medical Executive Committee.

8. Governing Body: The term Governing Body refers to the Under Secretary for Health, the individual to whom the Secretary for Veteran Affairs has delegated authority for administration of the Veterans Health Administration; and, for purposes of local facility management and planning, it refers to the Facility Director. The Director is responsible for the oversight and delivery of health care by all employees and specifically including the medical staff credentialed and privileged by the relevant administrative offices and facility approved processes.

9. Licensed Independent Practitioner: The term Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) refers to any individual permitted by law and by the JJP VAMC to provide care and services, without direction or supervision, within the scope of the individual’s license and consistent with individually granted privileges. In this organization, this includes physicians and dentists. It may also include individuals who can practice independently, who meet this criterion for independent practice.

10. Medical Staff: The body of all Licensed Independent Practitioners and other Practitioners credentialed through the medical staff process who are subject to the medical staff bylaws. The medical staff is organized into full-time staff, regular part-time staff, consultant and attending, fee basis, intermittent staff, on-station contract staff, without compensation (WOC), or on-station sharing agreement physicians, dentists, psychologists, optometrists, and podiatrists. The Medical Staff is organized under a single category of membership known as the active Medical Staff.

11. Advanced Practice Professional: Advanced Practice Professional are those health care professionals who are not physicians and dentists and who, will, function within a Scope of Practice but may practice independently on defined clinical privileges as defined in these Bylaws. Advanced Practice Professionals include: physician assistants (PA), and advanced practice nurses (ARNP, CRNA, and CRNP).

Advanced Practice Professionals may have prescriptive authority as allowed by Federal Regulation, and/or state of licensure statute and regulations, under the supervision of a credentialed and privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner when required. Advanced Practice Professionals do not have admitting privileges and may initiate prescriptions for non-formulary drugs or prescribe controlled substances in accordance with state of licensure statutes and regulations. Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners function under scope of practice and will be credentialed through an equivalent process as outlined in medical center policies and procedures.

12. Associate Director for Patient Care Service. The Nurse Executive is a registered nurse who is responsible for the full-time, direct supervision of nursing services and who meets licensing requirements as defined by Title 38. S/he is the Chairperson of the Nurse Executive Counsel and acts as full assistant to the Director in the efficient management of clinical and patient care services to eligible patients, the active maintenance of a credentialing and scope of practice system for relevant Advanced Practice Professional and certain associated health staff and in ensuring the ongoing education of the nursing staff.

13. Organized Medical Staff: The body of Licensed Independent Practitioners who are collectively responsible for adopting and amending medical staff bylaws (i.e., those with voting privileges) and for overseeing the quality of care, treatment, and services provided by all individuals with clinical privileges.

14. Outpatient Clinic: An outpatient clinic is a healthcare site whose location is independent of medical facility, however; oversight is assigned to a medical facility.

15. Peer Recommendation: Information submitted by an individual(s) in the same professional discipline as the applicant reflecting their perception of the Practitioner’s clinical practice, ability to work as part of a team, and ethical behavior or the documented peer evaluation of Practitioner-specific data collected from various sources for the purpose of evaluating current competence.

16. Primary Source Verification: Documentation from the original source of a specific credential that verifies the accuracy of a qualification reported by an individual health care Practitioner. This can be a letter, documented telephone contact, or secure electronic communication with the original source.

17. Proctoring: Proctoring is the activity by which a Practitioner is assigned to observe the practice of another Practitioner performing specified activities and to provide required reports on those observations. If the observing Practitioner is required to do more than just observe, i.e. exercise control or impart knowledge, skill, or attitude to another Practitioner to ensure appropriate, timely, and effective patient care, the action constitutes supervision. Such supervision may be a reduction of privileges.

18. Professional Standards Board: The Professional Standards Board, if established, may act as a Credentials Committee on credentialing and clinical privileging matters of the Medical Staff, making recommendation on such matters to the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff as defined in these Bylaws. This board also may act on matters involving Associated Health and Advanced Practice Professionals such as granting prescriptive authority, scope of practice, and appointment. Some professional standards boards (e.g. Nursing, etc.) are responsible for advancement and other issues related to their respective professions.

19. Rules: Refers to the specific rules set forth that govern the Medical Staff of the facility.

The Medical Staff shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement more specifically the general principles found within these Bylaws. Rules are a separate document from the bylaws. They can be reviewed and revised by the Medical Executive Committee and without adoption by the medical staff as a whole. Such changes shall become effective when approved by the Director.

20. Teleconsultation: The provision of advice on a diagnosis, prognosis, and/or therapy from a licensed independent provider to another licensed independent provider using electronic communications and information technology to support the care provided when distance separates the participants, and where hand-offs on care is delivered at the site of the patient by a licensed independent health care provider.

21. Telemedicine: The provision of care by a licensed independent health care provider that directs, diagnoses, or otherwise provides clinical treatment delivered using electronic communications and information technology when distance separates the provider and the patient.

22. VA Regulations: The regulations set by Department of Veterans Affairs and made applicable to its entities in compliance with Federal laws. (Example: Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 38 7402)

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Medical Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purposes of the Medical Staff shall be to:

1. Assure that all patients receive safe, efficient, timely, and appropriate care that is subject to continuous quality improvement practices.

2. Assure that all patients being treated for the same health problem or with the same methods/procedures receive the same level or quality of care. Primary care programs will assure continuity of care and minimize institutional care.

3. Establish and assure adherence to ethical standards of professional practice and conduct.

4. Develop and adhere to facility-specific mechanisms for appointment to the Medical Staff and delineation of clinical privileges.

5. Provide educational activities that relate to: care provided, findings of quality of care review activities, and expressed needs of caregivers and recipients of care.

6. Maintain a high level of professional performance of Practitioners authorized to practice in the facility through continuous quality improvement practices and appropriate delineation of clinical privileges.

7. Assist the Governing Body in developing and maintaining rules for Medical Staff governance and oversight.

8. Provide a medical perspective, as appropriate, to issues being considered by the Director and Governing Body.

9. Develop and implement performance and safety improvement activities in collaboration with the staff and assume a leadership role in improving organizational performance and patient safety.

10. Provide channels of communication so that medical and administrative matters may be discussed and problems resolved.

11. Establish organizational policy for patient care and treatment and implement professional guidelines from the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration.

12. Initiate and maintain an active continuous quality improvement program addressing all aspects of medical practice. Daily operations will be the subject of continuous quality improvement, as defined through organizational policies and procedures.

13. Coordinate and supervise the scope of practice of all Advanced Practice Professional and appropriate Associated health Practitioner staff so that their rights and practice goals are achieved and integrated expeditiously to benefit the care of patients. Each Advanced Practice Professional and appropriate Associated health Practitioner should have a scope of practice statement or privileges as well as the means employed to coordinate and supervise their function with the medical staff.

ARTICLE III. MEDICAL STAFF MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.01 Eligibility for Membership on the Medical Staff

1. Membership: Membership on the Medical Staff is a privilege extended only to, and continued for, professionally competent physicians, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, and psychologists who continuously meet the qualifications, standards, and requirements of VHA, this medical center, and these Bylaws.

2. Categories of the Medical Staff: Al full-time medical staff members have voting rights.

3. Decisions regarding Medical Staff membership are made without discrimination for reasons such as race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, lawful partisan political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental handicap when the individual is qualified to do the work, age, membership or non-membership in a labor organization, or on the basis of any other criteria unrelated to professional qualifications.

Section 3.02 Qualifications for Medical Staff Membership and Clinical Privileges

1. Criteria for Clinical Privileges: To qualify for Medical Staff membership and clinical privileges, individuals who meet the eligibility requirements identified in Section 3.01 must submit evidence as listed below. Applicants not meeting these requirements will not be considered. This determination of ineligibility is not considered a denial:

a. Active, current, full and unrestricted license to practice individual's profession in a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia as required by VA employment and utilization policies and procedures

b. Education applicable to individual Medical Staff members as defined, for example holding a Doctoral level degree in Medicine, Osteopathy, or Dentistry from an approved college or university.

c. Relevant training and/or experience consistent with the individual's professional assignment and the privileges for which he/she is applying. This may include any internship, residencies, fellowships, board certification, and other specialty training.

d. Current competence, consistent with the individual's assignment and the privileges for which he/she is applying.

e. Health status consistent with physical and mental capability of satisfactorily performing the duties of the Medical Staff assignment within clinical privileges granted.

f. Complete information consistent with requirements for application and clinical privileges as defined in Articles VI or VII or of these Bylaws for a position for which the facility has a patient care need, and adequate facilities, support services and staff

g. Satisfactory findings relative to previous professional competence and professional conduct.

h. English language proficiency.

i. Current professional liability insurance as required by Federal and VA acquisition regulations for those individuals providing service under contract.

j. A current picture hospital ID card or a valid picture ID issued by a state or federal agency (e.g. driver’s license or passport).

2. Clinical Privileges and Scope of Practice: While only Licensed Independent Practitioners may function with defined clinical privileges, not all Licensed Independent Practitioners are permitted by this Facility and these Bylaws to practice independently. All Practitioners listed below are subject to the bylaws whether they are granted defined clinical privileges or not.

a. The following Practitioners will be credentialed and privileged to practice independently:

i) Physicians

ii) Dentists

iii) Nurse Anesthetists

iv) Psychologists

v) Audiologists

vi) Chiropractors

vii) Podiatrists

viii) Optometrists

ix) Clinical Social Worker

b. The following Practitioners will be credentialed and will practice under a Scope of

Practice:

i) Advanced Practice Nurses

ii) Clinical Pharmacists

c. The following Practitioners will be credentialed and will practice under a Scope of

Practice with appropriate supervision:

i) Physician Assistants

3. Change in Status: Members of the Medical Staff as well as all Practitioners practicing through privileges or a scope of practice must agree to provide care to patients within the scope of their Delineated Clinical Privileges or Scope of Practice and advise the Director, through the Chief of Staff, of any change in ability to fully meet the criteria for Medical Staff membership, the ability to carry out clinical privileges which are held, and any changes in the status of professional credentials, such as, but not limited to, loss of licensure, clinical privileges, or certification, as well as any pending or proposed action against a credential, such as, but not limited to, licensure, clinical privileges, certification, professional organization or society as soon as able, but no longer than 15 days after notification of the practitioner.

Section 3.03 Code of Conduct

1. Acceptable Behavior: The VA expects that members of the medical staff will serve diligently, loyally, and cooperatively. They must avoid misconduct and other activities that conflict with their duties; exercise courtesy and dignity; and otherwise conduct themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively upon themselves and VA. Acceptable behavior includes the following (1) being on duty as scheduled. (2) being impartial in carrying out official duties and avoiding any action that might result in, or look as though, a medical staff member is giving preferential treatment to any person, group or organization, (3) not discriminating on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, or disability in any employment matter or in providing benefits under any law administered by VA,

(4) not making a governmental decision outside of official channels, (5) not taking any action that impedes government efficiency and economy, affects one’s impartiality, or otherwise lowers public confidence in the Federal Government, and

(6) with certain exceptions in accordance with 5 C.F.R. 2635, not asking for or accepting any gift, tip, entertainment, loan, or favor, or anything of monetary value for oneself or any member of one’s family from any person or organization that is seeking or has a business or financial relationship with the VA to avoid the appearance that one’s official actions might be influenced by such gifts.

2. Behavior or Behaviors that Undermine a Culture of Safety: VA recognizes that the manner in which its Practitioners interact with others can significantly impact patient care. VA strongly urges its providers to fulfill their obligations to maximize the safety of patient care by behaving in a manner that promotes both professional practice and a work environment that ensures high standards of care. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education highlights the importance of interpersonal/communication skills and professionalism as two of the six core competencies required for graduation from residency. Providers should consider it their ethical duty to foster respect among all health care professionals as a means of ensuring good patient care. Conduct that could intimidate others to the extent that could affect or potentially may affect quality and safety will not be tolerated. These behaviors, as determined by the organization, may be verbal or non-verbal, may involve the use of rude and/or disrespectful language, may be threatening, or may involve physical contact.

Behavior(s) that undermine a culture of safety is a style of interaction with physicians, hospital personnel, patients, family members, or others that interferes with patient care. Behaviors such as foul language; rude, loud or offensive comments; and intimidation of staff, patients and family members are commonly recognized as detrimental to patient care. Furthermore, it has become apparent that behavior(s) that undermine a culture of safety is often a marker for concerns that can range from a lack of interpersonal skills to deeper problems, such as depression or substance abuse. As a result, behavior(s) that undermine the culture of safety may reach a threshold such that it constitutes grounds for further inquiry by the Medical Executive Committee into the potential underlying causes of such behavior. Behavior by a provider that undermines the culture of safety could be grounds for disciplinary action.

VA distinguishes behavior(s) that undermine the culture of safety from constructive criticism that is offered in a professional manner with the aim of improving patient care. VA also reminds its providers of their responsibility not only to patients, but also to themselves. Symptoms of stress, such as exhaustion and depression, can negatively affect a provider’s health and performance. Providers suffering such symptoms are encouraged to seek the support needed to help them regain their equilibrium.

Providers, in their role as patient and peer advocates, are obligated to take appropriate action when observing Behavior(s) that undermine a culture of safety on the part of other providers. VA urges its providers to support their hospital, practice, or other healthcare organization in their efforts to identify and manage behavior(s) that undermine a culture of safety, by taking a role in this process when appropriate.

3. Professional Misconduct: Behavior by a professional that creates the appearance of a violation of ethical standards or has compromised ethical standards will not be tolerated.

Section 3.04: Conflict Resolution & Management

For VA to be effective and efficient in achieving its goals, the organization must have clear objectives and a shared vision of what it is striving to achieve. Therefore, there must be a mechanism for the recognition of conflict and its resolution in order to make progress in meeting these established goals. Conflict management is the process of planning to avoid conflict when possible and manage to resolve such conflict quickly and efficiently when it occurs. VA Handbook 5978.1, Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, addresses the conflict resolution and management process available in VA, as well as resources to engage in mediation as well as non-binding, or binding arbitration. VHA expects VA medical center leadership to make use of these and other resources in communicating expectations to clinicians and other staff that conflictive, disruptive, inappropriate, intimidating, and uncivil behavior can compromise VHA’s mission of high quality health care service to Veterans. VA staff who experience or witness such behavior are encouraged to advise an appropriate supervisor, Patient Safety Officer, or other individual as described in the following Agency resources.

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDICAL STAFF

Section 4.01 Leaders

1. Composition:

a. Chief of Staff.

2. Qualifications: As determined by the Director and VISN leadership. Licensed

Medical doctor in good standing.

3. Selection: The Network Director approves recommendations to the position of Chief of Staff. The selecting organization is responsible to complete and submit information on the selectee to the Leadership Management and Succession Sub- Committee (LMSS). The LMSS support staff (Executive Recruitment Team) in the Workforce Management and Consulting Office will submit templates to the Leadership Management and Succession Sub-Committee and Workforce Committee for information only.

4. Removal: All disciplinary and/or adverse actions involving a Chief of Staff position must be referred to the Office of the Accountability Review (OAR). The OAR Employee Relations division will assign an Employee Relations Specialist to work directly with the proposing and deciding officials.

5. Duties: Serves as the Chairperson of the Medical Executive Committee

Section 4.02 Leadership

1. The Organized Medical Staff, through its committees and Service Chiefs, provides counsel and assistance to the Chief of Staff and Director regarding all facets of patient care, treatment, and services including evaluating and improving the quality and safety of patient care services.

Section 4.03 Clinical Services

1. Characteristics:

a. Clinical Services are organized to provide clinical care and treatment under leadership of Primary Care, Specialty Care and/or Mental Health.

b. Clinical Services hold service-level meetings at least four times a year.

2. Functions:

a. Provide for quality and safety of the care, treatment, and services provided by the Service. This requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation of quality and safety, (including access, efficiency, and effectiveness); appropriateness of care and treatment provided to patients (including that provided under temporary privileges or emergency care absent privileges); patient satisfaction activities; patient safety and risk management activities; and utilization management.

b. Assist in identification of important aspects of care for the Service, identification of indicators used to measure and assess important aspects of care, and evaluation of the quality and appropriateness of care. Utilize VHA performance measures and monitors as a basis for assessing the quality, timeliness, efficiency, and safety of Service activities.

c. Maintain records of meetings that include reports of conclusions, data, recommendations, responsible person, actions taken, and an evaluation of effectiveness of actions taken. These reports are to be forwarded in a timely manner through channels established by the Medical Staff, at a minimum on a quarterly basis.

d. Develop criteria for recommending clinical privileges for members of the Service and ensure that ongoing professional practice evaluation is continuously performed and results are utilized at the time of re-privileging.

e. Define and/or develop clinical privilege statements including levels (or categories) of care that include all requirements of VHA Handbook 1100.19.

f. Develop policies and procedures to assure effective management, ethics, safety, communication, and quality within the Service.

g. Annually review privilege templates for each Service and make recommendations to Medical Executive Committee.

3. Selection and Appointment of Service Chiefs: Service line directors are appointed by the Director based upon the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. Medical department directors shall be certified by an appropriate specialty board or affirmatively comparable competence through the credentialing process.

4. Removal: Service line directors who are appointed by the Director will only be removed based upon the recommendations of the medical executive committee or special review board. Request for removal will be submitted to the Chief of Staff.

Service Line Directors will be removed only by an appropriate specialty board of review based on facts of the request. The recommendations by the medical executive committee will be voted on and approved by Chief of Staff.

Recommendations for replacement will also be included as part of the recommendation for removal process.

5. Duties and Responsibilities of Service Chiefs: The Service Chief is administratively responsible for the operation of the Service and its clinical efforts, as appropriate. In addition to duties listed below, the Service Chief is responsible for assuring the Service performs according to applicable VHA performance standards. These are the performance requirements applicable to the Service from the national performance contract, and cascade from the overarching requirements delegated to the Chief of the Medical Staff. These requirements are described in individual Performance Plans for each Service Chief. Service Chiefs are responsible and accountable for:

a. Completing Medical Staff Leadership and Provider Profiling on-line training within three months of appointment as Service Chief.

b. Clinically related activities of the Service.

c. Administratively related activities of the department, unless otherwise provided by the organization.

d. Continued surveillance of the professional performance of all individuals in the Service who have delineated clinical privileges through FPPE/OPPE.

e. Recommending to the medical staff the criteria for clinical privileges that are relevant to the care provided in the Service.

f. Recommending clinical privileges for each member of the Service.

g. Assessing recommendations for off-site sources of needed patient care, treatment, and services not provided by the Service and communicating the recommendations to the relevant organizational authority.

h. The integration of the Service into the primary functions of the organization.

i. The coordination and integration of interdepartmental and intradepartmental services.

j. The development and implementation of policies, manuals, and procedures that guide and support the provision of care, treatment, and services.

k. The assurance of a sufficient number of qualified and competent persons to provide care, treatment, and service.

l. The determination of the qualifications and competence of service personnel who are not licensed independent Practitioners and who provide patient care, treatment, and services.

m. The continuous assessment and improvement of the quality of care, treatment, and services.

n. The maintenance of and contribution to quality control programs, as appropriate.

o. The orientation and continuing education of all persons in the service.

p. The assurance of space and other resources necessary for the service defined to be provided for the patients served.

q. Annual review of all clinical privilege forms to ensure that they correctly and adequately reflect the services being provided at the facility. This review is noted by date of review being included on the bottom of each privilege delineation form.

ARTICLE V. MEDICAL STAFF COMMITTEES

Section 5.01 General

1. Committees are either standing or special.

2. All committee members, regardless of whether they are members of the Medical

Staff, are eligible to vote on committee matters unless otherwise set forth in these Bylaws.

3. The presence of fifty percent of a committee's members will constitute a quorum.

4. The members of all standing committees, other than the Medical Executive Committee are appointed by the Chief of Staff subject to approval by the Medical Executive Committee, unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws.

5. Unless otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, the Chair of each committee is appointed by the Chief of Staff.

6. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised will govern all committee meetings.

Section 5.02 Executive Committee of the Medical Staff

1. Characteristics: The Medical Executive Committee (MEC) serves as the Executive

Committee of the Medical Staff. The members of the Medical Executive Committee are:

a. Chief of Staff, Chairperson, voting.

b. Clinical Service Chiefs (ex. Primary Care, Mental Health), voting.

c. Two Practitioners appointed through the medical staff process, voting.

d. Director, or designee, ex-officio, non-voting.

e. Nurse Executive, ex-officio, non-voting.

f. Other facility staff as may be called upon to serve as resources or attend committee meetings at the request of the chairperson, with or without vote. For example, a Physician Assistant may be called to be present when an action affecting another Physician Assistant is being considered. Any member of the Medical Staff (with or without vote) is eligible for consideration.

g. The majority of the voting members must be fully licensed physicians of medicine or osteopathy.

h. Selection process for membership: Two practitioners are selected by medical staff once a year by election.

i. Removal Process for membership: Reasons for removal to include non-attendance of meetings or dismissal from medical staff.

2. Functions of the Medical Executive Committee.

a. Acts on behalf of the Medical Staff between Medical Staff meetings within the scope of its responsibilities as defined by the Organized Medical Staff.

b. Maintains process for reviewing credentials and delineation of clinical privileges and/or scopes of practice to ensure authenticity and appropriateness of the process in support of clinical privileges and/or scope of practice requested; to address the scope and quality of services provided within the facility.

c. Acts to ensure effective communications between the Medical Staff and the Director.

d. Makes recommendations directly to the Director regarding the:

i) Organization, membership, to include termination, structure, and function of the Medical Staff. Termination of medical staff membership will be discussed and voted on by the medical executive committee based on request from committee member. This recommendation for termination will be submitted to the Director for approval. A replacement to the committee member will be included in the recommendation to the director.

ii) Process used to review credentials and delineate privileges for the medical staff.

iii) Delineation of privileges for each Practitioner credentialed.

e. Coordinates the ongoing review, evaluation, and quality improvement activities and ensures full compliance with Veterans Health Administration Clinical Performance Measures, The Joint Commission, and relevant external standards.

f. Oversees process in place for instances of “for-cause” concerning a medical staff member’s competency to perform requested privileges.

g. Oversees process by which membership on the medical staff may be terminated consistent with applicable laws and VA regulations.

h. Oversees process for fair-hearing procedures consistent with approved VA mechanisms.

i. Monitors medical staff ethics and self-governance actions.

j. Advises facility leadership and coordinates activities regarding clinical policies, clinical staff recommendations, and accountability for patient care.

k. Receives and acts on reports and recommendations from medical staff committees including those with quality of care responsibilities, clinical services, and assigned activity groups and makes needed recommendations to the Governing Body.

l. Assists in development of methods for care and protection of patients and others at the time of internal and external emergency or disaster, according to VA policies.

m. Acts as the credentialing and privileging committee.

n. Acts as and carries out the function of the Physical Standards Board, which includes the evaluation of physical and mental fitness of all medical staff upon referral by the Occupational Health Physician. The Physical Standards Board may have the same membership as the local physician Professional Standards Board or members may be designated for this purpose by the health care facility Director. Boards may be conducted at other VA healthcare facilities.

o. Provides oversight and guidance for fee basis/contractual services.

p. Annually reviews and makes recommendations for approval of the Service-specific privilege lists.

3. Meetings:

a. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Medical Executive Committee shall be held at least every two months. The date and time of the meetings shall be established by the Chair for the convenience of the greatest number of members of the Committee. The Chairmen of the various committees of the Medical Staff shall attend regular meetings of the Medical Executive Committee when necessary to report the activities and recommendations of their committees; and may attend at other times with the consent of the Chief of Staff. Such attendance shall not entitle the attendee to vote on any matter before the Medical Executive Committee.

b. Emergency Meetings: Emergency meetings of the Medical Executive Committee may be called by the Chief of Staff to address any issue which requires action of the Committee prior to a regular meeting. The agenda for any emergency meeting shall be limited to the specific issue for which the meeting was called, and no other business may be taken up at an emergency meeting. In the event that the Chief of Staff is not available to call an emergency meeting of the Medical Executive Committee, the Director as the Governing Body or Acting Chief of Staff, acting for the Chief of Staff, may call an emergency meeting of the Committee.

c. Meeting Notice: All Medical Executive Committee members shall be provided at least five days advance written notice of the time, date, and place of each regular meeting and reasonable notice, oral or written, of each emergency meeting.

d. Agenda: The Chief of Staff, or in his absence, such other person as provided by these Bylaws, shall chair meetings of the Medical Executive Committee. The Chair shall establish the agenda for all meetings, and a written agenda shall be prepared and distributed prior to committee meetings.

e. Quorum: A quorum for the conduct of business at any regular or emergency meeting of the Medical Executive Committee shall be a majority of the voting members of the committee, unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws. Action may be taken by majority vote at any meeting at which a quorum is present. The majority of the voting members must be fully licensed physicians of medicine or osteopathy. Designees are not allowed to attend meetings in place of Medical Executive Committee members.

f. Minutes: Written minutes shall be made and kept on all meetings of the Medical Executive Committee, and shall be open to inspection by Practitioners who hold membership or privileges on the Medical Staff.

g. Communication of Action: The Chair at a meeting of the Medical Executive Committee at which action is taken shall be responsible for communicating such action to any person who is directly affected by it.

Section 5.03 Committees of the Medical Staff

1. The following Standing Councils hereby are established for the purpose of (a) evaluating and improving the quality of health care rendered, (b) reducing morbidity or mortality from any cause or condition, (c) establishing and enforcing guidelines designed to keep the cost of health care within reasonable bounds, (d) reviewing the professional qualifications of applicants for medical staff membership, (e) reviewing the activities of the Medical Staff and Advanced Practice Professionals and Associated health Practitioners (f) reporting variances to accepted standards of clinical performance by, and in some cases to, individual Practitioners and (g) for such additional purposes as may be set forth in the charges to each committee:

a. Clinical Practice Council (CPC):

i) Charge: Ensure that the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center provides high quality, cost-effective and fully coordinated primary care services to eligible veterans.

ii) Composition: The Clinical Practice Council is composed of all Service Line leaders and managers involved in the delivery or contracting of health services to veterans. Voting members include: Chief of Staff (chair); Associate Director Patient Care Services (co-chair); Associate Chiefs of Staff for Primary and Specialty Care; Chief of Pharmacy; Chief of Mental Health Behavioral Science;

Chief of Social Work Service; Nurse Facilitators for Community Living Center and Off-Station Care; Physician Staff Members from CLC, Primary Care, Radiology, and Inpatient; AFGE Representative; Performance Improvement Manager; Patient Safety Manager; and the Facility Contracts Coordinator.

iii) Meetings: Meetings should be held monthly but no less than ten (10) times a year and may be held more often.

b. Quality Safety and Value (QSV) Council :

i) Charge: To establish a transparent organization that promotes quality, safety, high reliability and value. The Quality, Safety and Value Council (QSVC) achieves this by: setting priorities for quality and safety initiatives that produce value; ensuring the creation of a safe, effective, patient-centered environment in which Veterans receive timely care that is efficient, effective and equitable;

proactively mitigating risk and harm through an effective enterprise risk management framework; ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory standards; and creating a just culture.

ii) Composition: Associate Director; Chief of Staff; Associate Director of Patient

Care Services/Nursing; Associate Chief of Staff for Specialty Care; Risk Manager; Patient Safety Manager; Performance Improvement Coordinator;

Accreditation Coordinator; System Redesign Coordinator; Director of Facility Management; AFGE Representative (non-voting)

i) Meetings: Meetings should be held monthly but no less than ten (10) times a

c. Veteran’s Experience Council (VEC):

i) Charge: The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Veterans Experience

Council Board will ensure that the organization has a clear understanding of how to enhance the Veterans experience, by providing a healing environment where patients experience extraordinary care, which includes identifying and making recommendations for improvements of system and process issues.

The Veterans Experience Council (VEC) will also participate in oversight of the Patient Centered Care Committee.

ii) Composition: Chair, ADPCS (voting member); Vice Chair, VEO (voting member); Women’s Health Cmte Chair (voting member); Outreach Cmte Chair (voting member); Veteran Health Cmte Chair (voting member); Disruptive Behavior Cmte Chair (voting member); VAVS Advisory Cmte Chair (voting member); VAVS Staff Cmte Chair (voting member); Pain Management Cmte Chair (voting member); Medical Officer (voting member); Minority Veteran Program Coordinator (voting member); Facilitator (optional; non-voting member); and Recorder (non-voting member)

i) Meetings: Meetings should be held monthly but no less than ten (10) times a

2. Information Flow to Medical Executive Committee: All Medical Staff Committees, including but not limited to those listed above, will submit minutes of all meetings to the Medical Executive Committee in a timely fashion after the minutes are approved and will submit such other reports and documents as required and/or requested by the Medical Executive Committee.

Section 5.04 Committee Records and Minutes

1. Committees prepare and maintain reports to include data, conclusions, recommendations, responsible person, actions taken, and evaluation of results of actions taken. These reports are to be forwarded in a timely manner through channels established by the Medical Staff, at a minimum on a quarterly basis.

2. Each Committee provides appropriate and timely feedback to the Services relating to all information regarding the Service and its providers.

3. Each committee shall review and forward to the MEC, a synopsis of any subcommittee and/or workgroup findings.

Section 5.05 Establishment of Committees

1. The Medical Executive Committee may, by resolution and upon approval of the

Director, without amendment of these Bylaws, establish additional standing or special committees to perform one or more Medical Staff functions.

2. The Medical Executive Committee may, by resolution and upon approval of the Director, dissolve or rearrange committee structure, duties, or composition as needed to better accomplish Medical Staff functions.

ARTICLE VI. MEDICAL STAFF MEETINGS

1. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Medical Staff shall be held at least bi-annually. A record of attendance shall be kept.

2. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Medical Staff may be called at any time by the Chief of Staff or at the request of the Director or the Medical Executive Committee. At any such meeting, only that business set forth in the notice thereof will be transacted.