Focused Review

Focused reviews are a systematic process to ensure that there is sufficient information available to evaluate a practitioner’s professional competence.

A focused review can be requested by the Credentials Committee, from Peer Review outcomes, the Medical Executive Committee or the Chief of Staff.  As well as, all first-time credentialing should require Focused Reviews and/or when additional data or reports indicate the need for a Focused Review. It is a time limited process that evaluates the practitioner’s ability to provide safe, high quality patient care.

Focused Reviews are a process to evaluate performance of all providers when 1) new privileges are requested or 2) when there is a question regarding a currently privileged provider’s ability to provide patient care.  It is a limited time process whereby reviews are conducted to evaluate the privilege-specific competency of the practitioner’s ability to provide safe, high quality patient care.

Indications may arise that the Focused Review be conducted by an External Reviewer. This may be due to a lack of internal expertise such as clinical specialists with the training in certain technology, best practices and expectations.  There may be conflicts of interest or reluctance to perform reviews within the facility, among other reasons.

A request for External Review may be made by the department chair, Peer Review Committee, the Medical Executive Committee the Chief Medical Officer or CEO.  At this time a contract will be entered into by the facility with an Independent Review Organization (IRO) before the records and/or information is shared.  The facility will determine the algorithm and time frame to be followed during the course of the review.  The IRO will share the results of the review with the Medical Executive Committee of the facility.