What is it?
The Medical Peer Review Consultant Referral List is a database of
physicians in Massachusetts interested in serving as consultants to
medical peer review committees. Our goal is to help match
interested physicians with organizations when the level of
expertise required is unavailable or an independent review of peer
review findings is desired. This list is intended to serve as a
resource for interested parties such as health care entities
afforded statutory peer review protection (e.g., hospitals, health
maintenance organizations, licensed clinics, and nursing
homes).
How can I participate?
If you are interested in serving as a consultant, please complete
the Peer Review Consultant Submission Form and either fax it to
(781) 893-9369 or mail it to the Office of the General Counsel,
Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA
02451.
I am seeking a consultant to assist a medical peer
review committee. How do I obtain a list of physicians willing to
participate?
Any interested party can request the names of physicians willing to
assist his or her medical peer review committee by completing the
Consultant Referral Request Form and either faxing to (781)
893-9369 or mailing it to the Office of the General Counsel,
Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA
02451.
How much does it cost?
Physicians do not pay a fee for inclusion, and there is no charge
for interested parties to request a referral. The MMS is committed
to promoting efforts to improve the quality of care.
The nature of the services and responsibilities and any
compensation for services are to be agreed upon between the
organization and the consultant.
As a consultant, how much should I charge?
The nature of the services and responsibilities and any
compensation for services are to be agreed upon between the
organization and the consultant.
If I agree to serve as a consultant, do I expose myself
to liability?
While the MMS cannot provide legal advice, we can share that there
are specific laws that protect the medical peer review process and
the physicians who participate on medical peer review committees.
In fact, Massachusetts law mandates that the proceedings, records,
and findings of medical peer review committees be confidential and
not subject to discovery in legal proceedings. This broad statutory
privilege serves to encourage physicians to participate without
fear of entanglement in malpractice litigation or exposure to
personal liability. This "peer review privilege" is rooted in
public policy to support physicians in their self-regulatory
efforts to monitor the competency and conduct of their peers. The
courts reason that this privilege promotes the vigorous and
"uninhibited expression of professional opinions" by physicians,
hospitals, and other health care institutions that is essential to
improving the quality of care. If you have specific legal
questions, please consult your attorney.
As an organization, how much should we pay the
consultant?
The nature of the services and responsibilities and any
compensation for services are to be agreed upon between the
organization and the consultant.
How are the consultants selected for inclusion in the
database?
Physicians self-select for inclusion in the database. The MMS does
not evaluate the qualifications of or credential the physicians who
request to be listed.
For more information about the registry
contact:
Office of the General Counsel
860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA 02451-1411
tel: (781) 434-7241
fax: (781) 893-9369
Email: PRCRegistry@listserv.massmed.org
