A key step in establishing an MMRC is clearly documenting the policies and procedures the committee will follow. Key topics to cover in such a document include:
- Mission, vision, scope, and goals of the committee
- Team member roles, terms (if applicable), and guidelines
- Authority and immunity
- Funding
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Methods of case identification and selection
- Methods for abstraction and development of a case narrative
- Communication with committee members, including case dissemination prior to or during the meeting
- Rules or processes governing committee proceedings and review, including facilitation and reaching consensus
- Processes for data entry and management
The policies and procedures document should ensure that all committee members have a shared understanding of, and commitment to the purpose of the MMRC. It also documents the methods and processes that should be uniformly applied to each case review and committee meeting.