150.989               Governing Boards – Medical Staff Physician Representation

150.989               Governing Boards – Medical Staff Physician Representation:

In light of recent changes to revised New York State Hospital Code (Part 405) and the resulting increase of hospital governing boards’ focus on quality assurance and clinical resource allocation, the Medical Society of the State of New York reaffirmed its positions and urged hospitals in New York State to appoint active medical staff members as full voting staff members of hospital governing boards.  (HOD 1990-20; Reaffirmed HOD 2013)

MSSNY is seeking enactment of legislation specifically authorizing physicians who are members of the medical staffs of municipal hospitals to serve on the governing body of such municipal hospitals, and is encouraging physicians who are members of medical staffs of all hospitals to seek to serve on the governing bodies of their hospitals.  (HOD 1988-82; Reaffirmed HOD 2013)

MSSNY recognizes the essential close working relationship that must exist between hospital governing bodies and medical staffs to ensure the delivery of optimal quality medical care to all patients served by hospitals.  To accomplish this, MSSNY strongly endorses the concept of practicing physician representatives from the medical staffs serving on hospital governing boards with voice and vote, to provide expertise and guidance concerning the development of medical care priorities.  (Council 11/14/85; Reaffirmed HOD 2013; Reaffirmed HOD 2023)