LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 400.01 Psychiatrist Peer Review
 
  PROCEDURES
  1. Each psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP) will receive a list of matched practitioners of equal training and position, to the extent possible.
     
    1. Reviews shall be held on a regular basis, as decided by the Peer Review Committee.
       
  2. The number of charts reviewed in each cycle of the process will be determined by the Peer Review Committee.
     
  3. Psychiatrists and psychiatric NPs will find their name on the list, connect with the matched peer, and send them a completed Peer Review Referral Form via secure email (DMH Policy 557.02) with the following information:
     
    1. The name and IBHIS number of one (1) or more clients (determined by the committee) that have at least a new evaluation and two (2) follow-up notes within the past six (6) months.
       
      1. For psychiatrists and NPs that only see single intakes, a chart with a single new evaluation is sufficient.
         
    2. The name of their supervising psychiatrist or NP
       
  4. Each psychiatrist and psychiatric NP will complete peer reviews online.
     
    1. Complete the appropriate peer review form, depending on whether the client is an adult or child/adolescent:
       
        1. For children and adolescents, please indicate whether the client is a foster care youth.
           
    2. Access the appropriate form using your DMH login and selecting “allow” to open the link.
       
  5. Time completing the peer review may be billed as Quality Assurance (QA) time.
     
    1. In IBHIS, select QA Service Note to document the time spent in this process.
       
  6. The Peer Review Committee may make changes to this policy so that it better applies to the diverse services provided by the department.