industry feature Impact on Medical Staff Bylaws Medical Staff Bylaws should reflect the integration of telemedicine with on-site practice. The following areas, among others, should be closely examined in order to minimize the risk of negligent credentialing claims and vicarious liability for the professional conduct of remote practitioners. Authority: Medical Staff Bylaws should reflect the board of directors’ authority, based on the recommendations of the Credentialing Committee and/or the Medical Executive Committee, to grant clinical privileges and/or medical staff membership to telemedicine providers. Membership: Many hospitals classify telemedicine practitioners under the “Consulting” category of medical staff membership. However, for those organizations with an active telemedicine program, a new membership category for telemedicine practice may be more appropriate. The American Medical Association (AMA) drafted sample bylaws language regarding TELEMEDICINE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EVALUATION COMPLAINTS AND ADVERSE EVENTS REPORT REPORT FROM ORIGINATING HOSPITAL REPORT TO DISTANT HOSPITAL DATE: Practitioner Name: Specialty Date of Occurrence of Complaint or Adverse Event: Details of Compliant or Adverse Event: Overall Impression: Acceptable: Marginal: Unacceptable: Complaint or Adverse Event Submitted by: Name Department/Title Date Contact Number Please forward Complaints and Adverse Events Report to the following distant “Hospital Name”: Hospital Name: Attention: Director/Manager of Medical Staff Services Fax: Follow-Up by CMO/VPMA: 18 / SYNERGY July /A ugust 2013