Dr. Jack Egnatinsky: Very often, all that we see within the organization’s policy for completeness of peer review is review by nurses or medical records clerks to meet the requirement for chart completion and monitoring, most commonly performed every 30 days.
Simply stated, peer review requires review by peers. Ideally, that should be physicians of the same specialty reviewing others in that specialty, but that is not always possible. For any meaningful peer review, physicians should review other physicians’ documentation and performance utilizing criteria established by the specialist. Results of peer review should be discussed with the reviewed physician and should be presented to the governing body periodically to be used as one criteria when time for reappointment/recredentialing comes up. Other providers, besides physicians, should also undergo peer review. As a general principle, physicians must review physicians, but they also can review other providers, such as RN first assistants, CRNAs, etc., and these individuals can review each other, but they cannot review physicians. Nursing peer review is becoming more common, but is not yet widespread.
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