Rhode Island § 5-54-26 - Physician Assistants

§ 5-54-26. Hospital responsibility to take action based upon adverse information received.

(a) Whenever a hospital receives information from the board pursuant to § 5-54-23(3) that indicates that the privileges of a physician assistant or other healthcare professional have been suspended, revoked, or limited at another hospital, the receiving hospital shall within thirty (30) days initiate a preliminary inquiry into whether the privileges of the affected physician assistant or other healthcare professional at the receiving hospital should be suspended, revoked, or limited, based upon review of the exercise of privileges at the receiving hospital, unless the information indicates that any adverse action with respect to privileges was administrative in character.

(b) Any hospital receiving information described in subsection (a) may take any one or more of the following courses of action in addition to the action required in subsection (a), any one of which shall discharge its responsibility under this chapter to monitor the qualification and fitness of physician assistants and other healthcare professionals on its medical staff:

(1) In any case that has been referred to the board, to await final disposition of the board, and to take further action that is consistent with sanctions, if any, imposed by the board;

(2) In any case in which the matter has resulted in the suspension, revocation, or restriction of privileges at any other hospital, to adopt the factual findings of the other hospital, and to impose the suspension, revocation, or restriction in privileges that the receiving hospital deems appropriate, if any, in light of these factors; or

(3) In any case, to conduct a formal inquiry, in accordance with applicable procedural requirements, to determine what action, if any, should be taken with respect to the privileges of the physician assistant or other healthcare professional.

(c) No hospital, or officer, employee, physician assistant, or other healthcare professional associated with these shall be liable to any physician assistant or other healthcare professional for any action taken in accordance with subsection (a) or (b) when the action was made in good faith.