Meetings, staff elections and a new Medical Staff Center dominate the news from me this month:

STAFF MEETING — Dean Phil Pizzo gave a very enlightening talk on the problems facing medicine and Stanford as the guest speaker at our Semiannual Medical Staff meeting held May 24 at the Clark Center. For a summary of his well-received talk please see. I highly recommend that you think about the points he made.

FUTURE MEETINGS — Attendance at our Medical Staff meetings has been low, in spite of good food, a generally convenient location, and provocative speakers. Nevertheless, here are some alternatives that might increase interest and attendance. To get things started, here are two thoughts:

One meeting per year

Meet at the Cantor Arts Center (across the street from the hospital) with a spouse/attendees and good food. We would make this more of a party without a speaker. Guests would be required to RSVP. The museum exhibits would be open.

I would like input from the Medical Staff about these or perhaps a better alternative. Please take the time to fill out the short questionnaire about future meetings [for a .pdf copy of the questionnaire, please click here], or just email me with your comments.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS — We will hold elections in June or July for all deputy chief and several members-at-large positions. You will receive further details by mail from the Medical Staff Office in the coming days. Meanwhile, I have listed the incumbents and their email addresses in a separate box below. All Medical Staff members are encouraged to consider running for one of these positions. Incumbents may, of course, run for re-election.

Voting members of the Medical Board (called the medical executive committee at some hospitals) includes all appointed service chiefs, elected deputy chiefs, elected members-at-large, elected Medical Staff officers, and the appointed chief of staff (called the chief medical officer at some hospitals). Other senior hospital officials such as the CEO, COO, senior nursing officers, etc. also attend in a non-voting capacity.

Thus the mix of elected and appointed voting members provides a check and balance and hopefully leads to a fair consensus on important Medical Staff and hospital issues. We hope that the private community and the academic community are well served by this mix of voting members.

What are the duties and perks of these positions? In general, only the private community members of a given service elect their service’s deputy chief. Thus, they are expected to represent this private constituency at all Medical Board meetings. (Note: services without any community Medical Staff members can have their deputy chief appointed by the service chief.) Regular attendance at every monthly Medical Board meeting is expected. Deputy chiefs have the same rights of debate and vote as every other board member.

Members-at-large are elected by the entire Medical Staff (academic and community) and are therefore expected to represent the entire Medical Staff.

The perks of these positions are the privilege and obligation to wield influence through debate and to vote on important issues. Every member of the Medical Board also is given free membership in the Santa Clara County Medical Association and the California Medical Association.

If you would like to become involved, please contact your service’s incumbent deputy chief and ask about his or her plans for re-election. You are encouraged to run against the incumbent if you feel you are more qualified or interested. A few member-at-large positions are also up for election. [For a List of Elected Members of the Medical Board, click here.] A competitive election is always more interesting since the candidates need to state their qualifications and positions on issues. Feel free to email me if you have questions about the process.

MEDICAL STAFF CENTER — We are very happy to announce the June opening of the new Medical Staff Center (aka “Physician Lounge” or “The Oasis”). This room is located just across from the gift shop on the first floor of the hospital. Your elected Medical Staff officers, notably my predecessor, Bruce Adornato, have worked hard for several years to make this a reality. We must thank CEO Martha Marsh and COO Mike Peterson for giving us access to prime real estate. The renovations and furnishings have been fully funded by your Medical Staff funds.

The Medical Staff Center is tastefully furnished with a 42-inch flat-screen TV, several computers and printers, an espresso/coffee/tea machine, a refrigerator with drinks and snacks, a microwave, newspapers, a few medical journals, and other amenities to provide a place to talk to your colleagues. The door access will be keyed to respond to your current ID cards. Only Medical Staff members (no house staff since they already have a lounge) and some senior hospital officials will have access.

Look for an announcement about an opening celebration. And please show that you appreciate the Center by regularly visiting the Medical Staff Center. [For a List of Elected Members, click here.]

As always, I can be contacted at kgarman@stanford.edu