70.41.230 - Duty of hospital to request information on physicians granted privileges.

Duty of hospital to request information on physicians granted privileges.

(1) Prior to granting or renewing clinical privileges or association of any physician or hiring a physician, a hospital or facility approved pursuant to this chapter shall request from the physician and the physician shall provide the following information:

     (a) The name of any hospital or facility with or at which the physician had or has any association, employment, privileges, or practice;

     (b) If such association, employment, privilege, or practice was discontinued, the reasons for its discontinuation;

     (c) Any pending professional medical misconduct proceedings or any pending medical malpractice actions in this state or another state, the substance of the allegations in the proceedings or actions, and any additional information concerning the proceedings or actions as the physician deems appropriate;

     (d) The substance of the findings in the actions or proceedings and any additional information concerning the actions or proceedings as the physician deems appropriate;

     (e) A waiver by the physician of any confidentiality provisions concerning the information required to be provided to hospitals pursuant to this subsection; and

     (f) A verification by the physician that the information provided by the physician is accurate and complete.

     (2) Prior to granting privileges or association to any physician or hiring a physician, a hospital or facility approved pursuant to this chapter shall request from any hospital with or at which the physician had or has privileges, was associated, or was employed, the following information concerning the physician:

     (a) Any pending professional medical misconduct proceedings or any pending medical malpractice actions, in this state or another state;

     (b) Any judgment or settlement of a medical malpractice action and any finding of professional misconduct in this state or another state by a licensing or disciplinary board; and

     (c) Any information required to be reported by hospitals pursuant to RCW 18.71.0195.

     (3) The medical quality assurance commission shall be advised within thirty days of the name of any physician denied staff privileges, association, or employment on the basis of adverse findings under subsection (1) of this section.

     (4) A hospital or facility that receives a request for information from another hospital or facility pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall provide such information concerning the physician in question to the extent such information is known to the hospital or facility receiving such a request, including the reasons for suspension, termination, or curtailment of employment or privileges at the hospital or facility. A hospital, facility, or other person providing such information in good faith is not liable in any civil action for the release of such information.

     (5) Information and documents, including complaints and incident reports, created specifically for, and collected, and maintained by a quality improvement committee are not subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil action, and no person who was in attendance at a meeting of such committee or who participated in the creation, collection, or maintenance of information or documents specifically for the committee shall be permitted or required to testify in any civil action as to the content of such proceedings or the documents and information prepared specifically for the committee. This subsection does not preclude: (a) In any civil action, the discovery of the identity of persons involved in the medical care that is the basis of the civil action whose involvement was independent of any quality improvement activity; (b) in any civil action, the testimony of any person concerning the facts which form the basis for the institution of such proceedings of which the person had personal knowledge acquired independently of such proceedings; (c) in any civil action by a health care provider regarding the restriction or revocation of that individual's clinical or staff privileges, introduction into evidence information collected and maintained by quality improvement committees regarding such health care provider; (d) in any civil action, disclosure of the fact that staff privileges were terminated or restricted, including the specific restrictions imposed, if any and the reasons for the restrictions; or (e) in any civil action, discovery and introduction into evidence of the patient's medical records required by regulation of the department of health to be made regarding the care and treatment received.

     (6) Hospitals shall be granted access to information held by the medical quality assurance commission and the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery pertinent to decisions of the hospital regarding credentialing and recredentialing of practitioners.

     (7) Violation of this section shall not be considered negligence per se.

[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 744; 1993 c 492 § 416; 1991 c 3 § 337; 1987 c 269 § 6; 1986 c 300 § 11.]

Notes: Severability -- Headings and captions not law -- Effective date -- 1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.

Findings--Intent -- 1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.

Short title -- Severability -- Savings -- Captions not law -- Reservation of legislative power -- Effective dates -- 1993 c 492: See RCW 43.72.910 through 43.72.915.

Legislative findings -- Severability -- 1986 c 300: See notes following RCW 18.57.245.

Medical quality assurance commission: Chapter 18.71 RCW.