Professional Review
Professional review enhances patient safety and supports health care quality in Colorado.
For nearly 50 years, Colorado’s professional review process has been a cornerstone of improving the quality and safety of health care. This confidential system allows doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to routinely and openly evaluate care, identify opportunities for improvement and learn from one another—all while maintaining accountability and safeguarding patient privacy.
Why Professional Review Matters:
Improves Patient Safety and Care Quality
Professional review fosters a culture of learning and improvement. Health care teams meet regularly to analyze cases, discuss “near misses” and identify ways to enhance processes, teamwork and patient outcomes. This leads to concrete changes, such as updated protocols, improved training, and new tools and technologies, ultimately delivering safer, higher-quality care to patients.
Confidentiality that Drives Honest Conversations
Confidentiality is vital to making professional review effective. These discussions happen in a protected space where health care providers can speak openly, allowing for candid evaluations and innovative solutions. Patient privacy and HIPAA compliance remain strictly upheld throughout the process.
Balancing Accountability and Improvement
While professional review conversations remain private, accountability is built into the system. Any serious adverse actions must be reported to state licensing boards, and professional review complements existing legal accountability measures. This ensures that medical professionals can learn and improve while maintaining high standards of care and ethical conduct.
Supporting Access to Care Across Colorado
By helping medical professionals continually improve, professional review strengthens Colorado’s reputation as a great place to practice medicine. It keeps health care accessible for communities across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas. Weakening these protections could result in provider shortages, limiting care options and access for patients in need.
The National Gold Standard in Patient Safety
Colorado’s medical peer review process is part of a larger accountability and improvement system – one that similarly exists in 49 states – contributing to professional education for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. It reflects a long-standing consensus and strikes the right balance between improving patient care while also holding medical professionals accountable.
Preserving this system is essential to ensuring that Colorado’s health care remains accessible, affordable, safe and innovative.