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Ask the Expert: Who qualifies for "precautionary suspensions?"

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, October 4, 2007

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Many hospitals have adopted the language "precautionary suspension" to better reflect the nature of a suspension imposed on a practitioner when his or her actions raise concerns for patients' safety. Some staffs reserve this terminology for circumstances where an investigation has not yet established whether a restriction on privileges is necessary or not. Doing this allows hospitals to highlight the need for an investigation without going as far as reporting the person in question to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The hospital suspects but has not confirmed a risk to patients, and imposes the suspension as a precaution. As such, it is not considered a punitive action, and no hearing is required.

Your hospital should place the definition of precautionary suspension in the bylaws (or associated manuals) and should indicate that such a suspension does not constitute a completed professional review action for purposes of reporting to the NPDB. Nevertheless, legal counsel should always be sought before denying the affected staff member a hearing or before determining that an NPDB report is not required.

More information can be found in The Greeley Company Guide to Medical Staff Bylaws by Todd Sagin, MD, JD and Joseph Cooper, MD, available here.

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