A trust relationship. A medical advisory board builds physician commitment to a healthcare facility

Today physicians and hospitals are in competition. To ensure consistent physician input and a forum for two-way communication, St. Edward Mercy Medical Center, Fort Smith, AR, has established a medical staff board. The medical staff board was organized so physicians could formally address managers' concerns without duplicating work done by other medical staff committees (e.g., executive committee, medical staff sections, hospital committees). Membership on the 24-member board was limited to the active staff. A two-year term was established, allowing for two consecutive terms to ensure continuity. The chief of staff and chief executive officer (CEO) are ex-officio members. Some of the issues of interest to physicians include how well informed operating room personnel were on current technology and procedures, how effective the emergency department could be, having been designed almost 20 years ago, and how volume purchasing affects physician familiarity with certain products. St. Edward's medical staff board has the potential to enhance the physician-hospital relationship and to serve as an effective tool in building commitment to the medical center.