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1 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES 2 3 4 Resolution: 726 5 (A-09) 6 7Introduced by: Texas Delegation 8 9Subject: Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations 10 11Referred to: Reference Committee G 12 (J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, Chair) 13 14 15Whereas, The Joint Commission has adopted a new standard for hospital accreditation 16mandating Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPEs) that allow hospitals to identify 17professional practice trends impacting quality of care and patient safety; and 18 19Whereas, Hospitals now are looking at data on performance for all practitioners with privileges 20on an ongoing basis rather than at the two-year reappointment process; and 21 22Whereas, OPPEs are being used by many hospitals to assess the competence of medical staff 23members and those practitioners privileged through the medical staff process; and 24 25Whereas, The medical staff are responsible for ensuring that OPPEs are consistently 26implemented and clearly defined indications are uniformly applied; and 27 28Whereas, The written results of OPPEs usually will become part of the practitioner’s credentials 29file and will be included in the decision to maintain or revise existing privileges or revoke an 30existing privilege before or at renewal; and 31 32Whereas, Currently, medical staffs have little guidance in developing and carrying out OPPEs; 33therefore be it 34 35RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association develop materials and other necessary 36resources to assist physicians and medical staffs in establishing transparent policies to 37implement and conduct Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations. (Directive to Take Action) 38 39Fiscal Note: Implement accordingly at estimated cost of $27,732 which includes staff time, 40publication, printing, production, postage and promotion costs. 41 42Received: 05/06/09