Opinion ID: 2604297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: alleged revocation of associate privileges

Text: Kiester contends that Humana granted him associate membership for a one year term. He argues that Humana summarily and arbitrarily revoked his membership privileges in October 1985 in violation of numerous but unspecified provisions in Article VIII of the bylaws. [8] Kiester's contentions that he was granted a one year associate membership at Humana arise out of an unsigned [9] memorandum to Kiester's file from Dr. Thomas J. Harrison. Dr. Harrison acted as temporary Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Humana during 1985. The memorandum refers to an April 26, 1985 interview with Kiester and notes that Dr. Harrison reviewed Kiester's file, consulted with two Anchorage surgeons and reviewed Dr. Gower's negative opinion of Kiester. Dr. Harrison concluded as follows: After due consideration I feel that Dr. Kiester sufficiently answered the questions I had concerning his temporary medical staff privileges. I suggested to Dr. Kiester for his year of Associate Membership that he is under probation in that he must have a Board Certified surgeon assist him on all cases. Also on April 26, 1985, in a signed and dated memorandum, Dr. Harrison indicated that he found Kiester's application and credentials in order and recommended that he be granted temporary medical staff privileges until a formal review can be made by the Credentials Committee. Dr. Harrison's second memorandum indicates approval of his recommendation on April 29 by Dr. Gower, President, Medical Staff, and on April 30 by Mary D. Willis, Executive Director. A notice to hospital personal indicated that Kiester's temporary privileges were effective through August 30, 1985. Humana is correct in its argument that Dr. Harrison had no authority by himself to grant privileges. [10] Further, even construing Dr. Harrison's memoranda in the light most favorable to Kiester, they show that Humana granted Kiester temporary privileges, not associate membership. While Dr. Harrison's unsigned memorandum contains language regarding both temporary privileges and associate membership, the memorandum cannot be construed as a grant of privileges. Rather, the grant of privileges took place with the signatures of Dr. Gower and Ms. Willis approving Dr. Harrison's recommendation. Medical Staff Bylaws Article III, Section 3(a). We conclude that Humana granted Kiester only temporary privileges which automatically expired after 120 days on August 30, 1985, in accordance with Article VI, Section 2(a) of the bylaws. [11] Therefore, his argument that his associate membership was wrongfully terminated in October 1985 is without merit.