TSMSS Vision Statement
To be recognized as a leading organization that promotes patient safety through education, certification, and professional growth of medical services specialists.

TSMSS Mission Statement
The mission of TSMSS is to promote certification and professional growth through networking, within the healthcare industry.

The 2009 Conference was Fantastic!

The 2009 TSMSS Annual Conference was a blockbuster! More than 220 TSMSS Members and guests from around the state (and as far away as Mississippi) gathered at the Marriott Quorum Hotel in Addison for a truly top-notch program!

The 2010 Conference Will Rock Your Boat!

The 2010 TSMSS Annual Conference will be held at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi! Mark your calendars for April 12-14, 2010 and join us in Corpus for a terrific event! (And be sure to mark the weekend before the Conference [April 10-11, 2010] if you're interested in pursuing your CPCS or CPMSM...we'll have professional development programs during those pre-Conference days just for you!)

Online Continuing Education in Medical Staff Services--Basics of Credentialling!!

El Centro College will begin offering a series of online continuing education courses in medical staff services. The first of these programs, Basics of Credentialing, will be offered beginning in June 2009. The course will last for two weeks and 8 CEUs are being requested from NAMSS. If you have new staff in your department who need in-depth information on credentialing, this course is perfect for them. It is also a good refresher for those of you who need CEUs in order to maintain your credentials. Cost is $99 and the textbook that will be used is The Medical Staff Services Handbook: Fundamentals and Beyond, by Gassiot, Searcy and Giles. The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please note that it takes two weeks to receive a book that is ordered online.

Register by calling El Centro College at 214-860-2260 or 214-860-2696 and pay by credit card. The course number is MSST 2000.54101. Registration begins April 21. The course begins June 8, 2009. For more information contact cgassiot@satx.rr.com.

TSMSS Online Fall Edition Available!

The Fall issue of TSMSS Online is available in the Publications Section of the TSMSS website. TSMSS Members need only log in to read articles on: The recent Poliner decision; "phrases" in the President's message; updates on TSMSS committees; NAMSS updates; disruptive behavior in physicians; new members; how to set up Chapter bank accounts; and fun facts about TSMSS Board members, among other things. In addition, two sample codes of conduct have been placed in the publications area, serving as valuable resources to TSMSS members! So go on over and read!

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Overturns Poliner Decision

In a positive action supporting physicians conducting peer review, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the judgment of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in the case of LAWRENCE R POLINER, MD; LAWRENCE R POLINER, MD, PA Plaintiffs-Appellees v. TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEMS, a Texas Non-Profit Corporation, doing business as Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas; JAMES KNOCHEL, MD Defendants-Appellants.

Essentially, the case may be summarized as follows:

A judgment awarding some $33 million, including prejudgment interest, was entered against a major hospital and leading physician for alleged defamations. The judgment rested on limited restrictions of Dr. Lawrence Poliner's privileges at Presbyterian Hospital over a period of fewer than twenty-nine days to investigate concerns involving his handling of several patients. This peer review, which was headed by Dr. James Knochel, led to a suspension of Poliner's cardiac catheterization lab and echocardiography privileges that lasted approximately five months. Poliner sued Knochel, Presbyterian, and other doctors involved in the peer review alleging various federal and state law violations.

The jury found for Poliner on his defamation claims. Poliner was able to offer evidence at trial of actual loss of income of about $10,000-but was awarded more than $90 million in defamation damages, nearly all for mental anguish and injury to career. The jury also awarded $110 million in punitive damages.

The Fifth Circuit Court held for the Defendants, saying they are immune under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) from money damages for the temporary restrictions of Poliner's privileges. The Court reversed and rendered judgment for Defendants.

For a complete copy of the ruling (PDF file), click here.

Cooking with Credentials!

If you attended the 2009 TSMSS Annual Conference, you saw the ongoing excitement around the cookbook! A number of lucky people were able to walk away with cookbooks at the incredible bargain price of just 3 for $25! At only $10.00 plus $5.00 shipping & handling, it's still a bargain, though, so buy your copy now! And if you buy three, they're only $25, plus $15 S&H! Whether you attended the TSMSS Conference or not, you're sure to want your own copy of our fantastic 394-page cookbook! Click here to order your copy today!

TSMSS Salary Survey

TSMSS published a salary survey in 2005 and it's available to TSMSS members only! Members who would like a copy may simply log in to the members-only (Publications) area of the website.