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In late 2003, the Texas A&M Health Science Center Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI) developed a unique program to address a special need of rural hospitals-physician peer review. The Rural Physician Peer Review Program (RPPR)© is an “internal” peer review program facilitated by RCHI. Using e-technology and teleconferencing, physicians of like specialties are brought together across the state to discuss patient care. The program has grown from an initial two (2) hospitals to 57.
RPPR© is a program developed to not only address the issues encountered by providers but also to utilize peer review as a venue in which shared learning can occur. Incorporating shared learning into the peer review process removes bias, promotes a “just culture” and removes the traditional punitive focus. Participating physicians receive continuing medical education (CME) credits that are awarded through the Texas A&M Health Science Center Coastal Bend Health Education Center. Unique features of the program include the ability for physicians to participate from any location.
Information is provided through a HIPAA compliant, secure web portal. The actual meeting is then conducted via a secure conference call.
RPPR© also promotes system learning. When “systems” issues are recognized in a peer review session, feedback is provided to the hospital as opportunities for improvement. This information can then be used to enhance the hospital’s quality and safety program.
The program is very helpful in meeting regulatory and accrediting compliance with medical staff, patient care, quality improvement and patient safety requirements/standards. Additionally, the program assists in meeting Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
