Official statements (statements authorized or commissioned by the governing body) as to the conduct of the organization’s affairs in specific areas. In hospitals, the term often applies to statements which supplement the medical staff bylaws. Such rules and regulations have the force of the bylaws themselves, but contain more detail than would be appropriate in the bylaws; also, the process for their revision is less cumbersome than that for the revision of bylaws. For example, the bylaws could require the keeping of a medical record on each patient, while the rules and regulations could specify more detailed requirements concerning the content of medical records, promptness of completion, penalties for failure to comply, and so on.