Acceptability of conducting Utilization Review Committee meetings by e-mail

A transfusion medicine physician in Southern California reports that there has been a proposal from one of their Blood Utilization Committee members to conduct their meeting by e-mail. The inquiring physician wonders if any other institutions conduct their committee meetings by e-mail. He is concerned about potential problems, such as the maintenance of confidentiality in the peer review process, and if such e-mail meetings would meet with the approval of accreditation and regulatory bodies such as CAP, JCAHO, AABB, state and federal agencies.

The following responses have been received.

ADDENDA Nov. 19, 2004

1. A transfusion medicine physician in Ohio does not understand how one can conduct such meetings by e-mail. He suggests, however, that the inquiring colleague consider "con-calls" or "Net meetings". While he has never used these technologies for Blood utilization Committee meetings, he has used them for other committee meetings. These established technologies might be a valid alternative to face-to-face meetings.

Submit comments to the e-Network Forum at enetworkforum@cbbsweb.org

Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Senior Editor & Moderator

W. Tait Stevens, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator

Elizabeth M. St. Lezin, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Associate Editor & Moderator