A strategy to enhance accountability in health care delivery

The New York State Department of Health surprised many in the hospital industry and medical community when, in June 1987, it proposed as regulation that the governing body of each acute care hospital appoint a medical director who would be assigned responsibility for the direction of the organized medical staff. Such a proposal, without modification, has been incorporated in the New York State Hospital Code--Minimum Standards, effective January 1, 1989. While a strong case can be made for this position in hospitals, its value has long been recognized by a wide variety of organizations.