Finley CEO explains credential process

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Finley CEO explains credential process

Hospital being sued by man (with CMT) who alleges negligence

regarding his treatment

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?0=1 & id=183695

By Hogstrom

Knox drew the distinction between " qualified " and " competent "

physicians when he testified Thursday during a trial involving The

Finley Hospital's process of granting medical credentials.

Knox, Finley's president and chief executive officer, told a Dubuque

County jury that the hospital grants credentials to allow

for " qualified physicians " to join the medical staff. That process

is not intended to ensure competency.

" Competency is something you have to determine after assessing (the

physician's) practice over a period of time, " Knox said.

Day, of Dubuque, seeks monetary damages from the hospital,

alleging it was negligent when it granted credentials to Dr.

Arnz, a Dubuque podiatrist. Day developed a chronic bone infection

subsequent to a surgical procedure during which metal pins were

inserted into his tibia. The pins held in place a supportive device

called a circular frame.

Day's attorney, S. White, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, noted that

Knox drew a distinction between qualifications and competency of

physicians practicing at the hospital.

" When the hospital runs ads, do you say: 'Come to Finley Hospital,

our physicians are qualified but we're not sure they're competent?' "

" We don't do either, " Knox said. " We don't advertise they are

qualified or competent. "

" Don't you think the public would like to know if a physician is

competent? " White said.

" I absolutely think the public should know, but they don't do that

by contacting the hospital and asking our opinion, " Knox said.

Earlier Thursday, Day testified that he had developed an infection

at the site of a peripherally inserted central catheter line, which

had been used to supply antibiotics to his bloodstream in a bid to

treat his bone infection in the fall of 2004.

Finley's attorney, Connie M. Alt, of Cedar Rapids, noted during her

cross examination of Day that he declined a physician's

recommendation for two additional weeks of intravenous treatment

with antibiotics, even though the doctor warned that declining that

treatment in favor of oral antibiotics would lower the success rate

of fighting the infection.

" I was as sick as a dog and I had had enough, " Day said .

Knox testified that physicians complete an application form to begin

a multiple-step process to receive medical credentials.

Knox testified a medical staff coordinator verifies the information

supplied to the hospital.

Knox is scheduled to return to the witness stand today.