House of Delegates: Morning Session

The House of Delegates spent considerable time this morning discussing how the Medical Society should assist physicians in managing their own clinical data to improve the practice of medicine. The House approved six principles for the management of the data warehouses, called clinical data repositories.

After considerable discussion, the House also recommended that the MMS initiate a pilot clinical data repository project to demonstrate how aggregated clinical data can improve medical outcomes. The resolution said the MMS could leverage existing entities that are already engaged in this activity.

The House also said the MMS should develop a business plan for an MMS-sponsored clinical data repository if other entities engaged in this activity don't adequately make the information available to physicians. Supporters of proposal said it is important for the MMS to play a direct role in helping physicians manage their own clinical information, rather than cede the playing field to other organizations.

Later in the session, the House began debating a series of resolutions focusing on the peer review process in hospitals and its potential misuse. Delegates asked the MMS to develop measures to protect physicians from inaccurately being labeled disruptive. The House also discussed the issue of "sham peer review," and referred the topic to the Committee on Ethics and Grievances for further review.