Missouri law requires all hospitals to establish a peer review system, and to provide the medical records to implement the peer review system.  Failure to do so may lead to the revocation of the hospital’s designation as trauma, STEMI or stroke center.  All medical records used by the hospital may only be used for the purpose of peer review.  Identifying information of hospitals, physicians, and patients may not be released.1   

        The law outlines the composition of medical peer review committees.  Members of peer review committees and those providing information to or testifying before the committee are immune from civil liability as long as the information was provided in good faith.  The statute also sets forth that any information revealed during the peer review process does not waive patient confidentiality and may not be used for evidentiary purposes unless specifically provided for by the law.  However, information obtained from its original source may be used in discovery or for legal proceedings.  Privileged information may be used in an action brought by the peer review committee to deny, suspend or restrict hospital privileges of a physician or staff member.2