Tip of the week: Put patient safety before manners

Credentials committees often overanalyze credentialing and privileging decisions regarding low- and no-volume providers in an attempt to avoid insulting or criticizing a colleague. However, the best course of action is to approach every applicant in a businesslike manner. Rely on your policies and procedures to avoid the appearance of impropriety and communicate with the low- or no-volume practitioner regarding:

• Established criteria for clinical privileges, including whether your facility requires a minimum number of patient contacts per year
• The physician’s plans to grow or narrow his or her practice
• The hospital’s increased focus on determining proficiency for clinical privileges
• Your medical staff’s strategic direction
• Volumes incurred at your facility

This week’s tip is excerpted from Assessing the Competency of Low-Volume Practitioners: Tools and strategies for OPPE and FPPE compliance by Mark A. Smith, MD, MBA, CMSL and Sally Pelletier, CPMSM, CPCS.