HFAP unveils OPPE, FPPE requirements

The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) has announced new standards for OPPE and FPPE for critical access hospitals and acute care hospitals. The requirements were approved by CMS and take effect starting January 2015. By that date, HFAP-accredited facilities must have evidence that a process is in place for ongoing physician competency assessment.

The language of the requirements is relatively simple. For example, the explanation for the OPPE standard states: “The Medical Staff have a process to monitor the competency of its members. Through an ongoing review of performance measurements, negative trends are tracked and trended in a manner that allows the leadership to identify performance issues and implement strategies that will effect change.”

The requirements might mean major changes at some facilities, and simple modifications at others. If you work for an HFAP-accredited critical access or acute care hospital, what do these changes mean for your department? Let me know and as always, thanks for reading!

Mary Stevens, editor, Medical Staff Leader Insider