Responding to reports of allegations of physician sexual misconduct is more important now than ever.
Following the rise of the #MeToo movement, and public examples such as the former USA gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar; healthcare entities across the country are seeking to ensure they have the policies, procedures, and training required to properly respond to allegations. This topic will assist those responsible for drafting and implementing such policies and procedures to understand the components of appropriately responding to allegations in real-time. This information will address the aspects of investigating sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against a practitioner. A practitioner could be an employee, including one who holds privileges at a healthcare entity, and/or is a hospital medical staff member. Under medical staff peer review, the protocols for responding to a complaint regarding an employee, or those regarding a physician with privileges will vary. This topic will address those differences and provide information on how to operate in order to maintain the peer review privilege and immunities for your healthcare entity.
Learning Objectives
- You will be able to discuss types of sexual misconduct allegations against medical staff members.
- You will be able to explain peer review and human resources.
- You will be able to identify policies and procedures to respond to allegations.
- You will be able to review reporting responsibilities.
Agenda
Types of Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Medical Staff Members
- Allegations by Other Medical Staff Members
- Allegations by Health Care Entity Employees
- Allegations by Patients
Peer Review and Human Resources - Two Separate Tracks
- Explaining the Peer Review Privilege
- When Is Peer Review Triggered?
- When Is Human Resources Triggered?
- Importance of Protecting the Peer Review Privilege
- How to Protect the Peer Review Privilege
Policies and Procedures to Respond to Allegations
- Investigating Allegations Against Medical Staff Members
- Progressive Steps
Reporting Responsibilities
- State and Federal
- Agencies and Local Law Enforcement
Speakers
Sherri T. Alexander,
Polsinelli- Shareholder in the Dallas office of Polsinelli
- Chair of Health Care Litigation Practice Group
- Practice emphasizes all aspects of health care litigation ranging from complex litigation to medical staff, credentialing, and physician and nurse peer review
- Conducts regular seminars and workshops on numerous topics including the national practitioner data bank and medical staff peer review
- Author of several publications related to the areas of medical staff, peer review, credentialing, and evolving case law
- Patrick E. Higginbotham, American Inn of Court, Master, Former President
- American Health Law Association; Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow; Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, Fellow
- J.D. degree, Southern Methodist University
Alexis L. Angell,
Polsinelli- Shareholder in the Dallas office of Polsinelli
- Member of the Health Care Litigation Practice Group
- Practice emphasizes all aspects of medical staff, physician and nurse peer review, credentialing, and related litigation
- Conducts regular seminars and workshops on numerous medical staff, peer review, credentialing, physician behavior, and the national practitioner data bank
- Author of several publications related to the areas of allegations of physician sexual misconduct, HIPAA, and changes to the National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook
- Chair, American Health Law Association, Medical Staff, Credentialing, and Peer Review Practice Group
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Co-City Lead & Mentor
- Patrick E. Higginbotham, American Inn of Court, Former Barrister
- Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section
- J.D. degree, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Who Should Attend
This live webinar is designed for medical records directors, health information directors, coders, business managers, office managers, nurses, physicians, hospital administrators, compliance managers, and attorneys.
