Reasons You Could Lose Your Hospital Privileges That Have Nothing to Do With Patient Care

 Posted on November 17, 2020 in Medical License Defense

By their very nature, most physicians—including Medical Doctors (M.D.s) and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s)—tend to have an independent decision-making spirit. While they are also generally very intelligent and dedicated to their patients, the responsibilities that come with gaining admitting and practicing privileges at a particular hospital can sometimes seem to conflict with a doctor’s sense of independence.

In addition to standards of care, hospital privileges also involve collegial, social, and legal elements that are more complicated than just taking care of patients. A physician who does not live up to all of a hospital’s expectations could quickly find that he or she is in danger of losing membership on the hospital’s medical staff.

Avoid These Types of Behaviors

It is understandable that concerns over the level of care that a physician provides could lead to the possible suspension or termination of the doctor’s hospital privileges. Such concerns could pertain to the doctor’s bedside manner, the failure to seek approval before trying unorthodox treatments, or not reaching out to specialists or consultants for questions outside of the physician’s area of specialty. Repeated incidents could become problematic and lead to the hospital suspending your privileges.

There are, however, other behaviors that are not directly related to interactions with patients but could cost you your hospital privileges. Such behaviors include:

1. Failing to maintain a collegial manner of practice: Hospital-based medicine is at its best when it is a team effort. As such, you have the responsibility to practice medicine in a collegial manner, which means that you should make every effort to be courteous and approachable instead of defiant and inflexible. Abusive and disruptive behavior toward colleagues, nurses, and others is also completely unacceptable.
2. Not knowing or refusing to follow policies and procedures: It is a privileged doctor’s responsibility to know and abide by the policies and procedures of the hospital. These policies could pertain to nurses’ responsibilities, administrative practices, grievance procedures, and more.
3. Criticizing the hospital, nurses, and other doctors: If you are a physician, you should have confidence in your abilities, but that does not give you the right to criticize the quality of care that is being provided or was provided by nurses, other doctors, or the hospital in general. Valid concerns should be addressed using the proper channels, never by mistreating or scolding another person, especially around patients.
4. Refusing to accept suggestions or constructive criticism: How you respond to constructive criticism or suggestions from others is important to your relationship with the hospital. If you immediately become defensive or argumentative when someone presents a different point of view regarding a patient’s care or any other concern, you are putting your privileges at risk. Instead, be open to suggestions, and be willing to absorb new information as it is presented to you.
5. Failing to live up to your end of an improvement agreement: If you had an issue with the hospital that led to an agreement that you would make certain changes in the way you practice or that you would obtain certain training or continuing education, you must keep your end of the deal. Make the required changes or obtain the training as quickly as possible to avoid placing your hospital privileges in jeopardy.

Contact an Illinois Loss of Hospital Privileges Attorney

If you have received notice of a hearing or other action regarding your hospital privileges, it is important to have an experienced Illinois hospital privileges defense lawyer on your side. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., we help doctors protect their privileges so that they can continue practicing and serving their patients. Call 630-310-1267 for a free consultation to discuss your case today.

Sources:

https://seak.com/blog/uncategorized/10-biggest-legal-mistakes-physicians-make-regarding-hospital-staff-privileges/

https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3311&context=lcp