Computerizing the medical staff office

To assist its medical staff in making appointments and reappointments to the medical staff, delineating clinical privileges, and maintaining quality assurance information, as well as to streamline clerical duties in the medical staff office, El Camino Hospital (a 460-bed acute care facility in Mountain View, California) developed a comprehensive, computerized medical staff quality assurance database (MESQUAD). This article describes MESQUAD as a program developed by one hospital to meet its unique needs.