Credentialing & Privileging

Don’t let your temporary privileges process become lax

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, July 16, 2009

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Anne R. Buss, CPMSM, CPCS, is a medical staff consultant based in Fayetteville, AR.

Dear readers,

I think we are getting lax in routinely granting temporary privileges. We all know how Joint Commission feels about temporary privileges. It is warranted only when there is urgent patient need and/or while the application is awaiting final board approval.

The medical staff office is often pressured by department chiefs that are short handed to get the new doctor on board as soon as possible. They are even willing to sign off on the privileges, write letters of immediate patient need, and give peer references. They will call the chief of staff, administration, and the medical director to speed up the process. But the bottom line is rushing work is a slippery slope that leads to errors. Your bylaws should be clear on when temporary privileges can be granted. If the board only meets quarterly then the need for approval of temporary privileges may be a given more often than at an organization where a board meets more regularly. Sometimes there are provisions for an appointed board member to sign off on applications that have no sanctions or challenges to licensure.   

Most facilities grant temporary privileges for the care of a specific patient to a physician that is not a member of your staff, or an applicant. A process should be clarified in the bylaws, along with the number of times a physician may be granted these privileges before he is required to apply for privileges, and how long these special privileges will last. 

Remember, those who are afraid to ask are afraid to learn.

All the best,
Anne R. Buss, CPMSM, CPCS



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