Ask ECRI: Medical Director Peer Review of PAs and NPs

August 3, 2016 | Ambulatory Care Risk Management

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​A practice's medical director wrote to ECRI Institute, asking about peer review for different categories of providers. The medical director noted that physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) could not lead peer review of a physician, but that a physician might be able to lead peer review of a PA or an NP if both the physician and the professional being reviewed were in the same field, such as primary care. He asked whether, as medical director, he should be responsible for reviewing their charts.

In our answer, we note that a medical director has many responsibilities. As part of quality projects, the medical director may review charts from healthcare workers providing a variety of services at the practice. Additionally, if he or she is a direct supervisor to other licensed providers, the medical director may also have legal obligations to review those providers' charts and assess their work performance. Legal counsel can help clarify questions regarding those obligations. Finally, the medical director has the opportunity to review a variety of other providers'...

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