QUESTION:
Getting attendance at our Medical Staff department and committee meetings has always been a challenge.  Being able to participate remotely has helped somewhat, but it has also opened a whole new set of problems (like members participating on a confidential committee discussion while they shop at Target!).  How can we balance the benefits of using Zoom and Teams with some of the inherent risks that come along with using those remote options?

OUR ANSWER FROM HORTYSPRINGER ATTORNEY IAN DONALDSON:
While we too have benefited from the ability to interact with Hospitals and Medical Staffs leaders via Zoom and Teams during the pandemic, maintaining confidentiality, privacy and security can be a problem during virtual meetings.  This is especially true if any sensitive information will be discussed or shared.

Like traditional, in-person meetings, it can be helpful for the chair to begin each meeting with a reminder of the importance of confidentiality when sensitive issues are being discussed.  It is also important to remind participants to only join in from a secure location and that they are required to maintain compliance with all applicable policies on confidentiality, data privacy, electronic communications, and security no matter where they call in from.  A “virtual meeting” policy can be a helpful way to spell out these guidelines.

Consider joining us for our November Grand Rounds “Running Effective Meetings in a Virtual World,” where Ian Donaldson and Nick Calabrese will discuss how to make your meetings more efficient, both in-person and remotely, and some of the challenges Medical Staff leaders face regarding confidentiality in a virtual space.