As multiple mid-level practitioners crowd around the operating room table, one profession stands out amid these often confusing and blurred roles: the registered nurse first assistant, otherwise known as the RNFA. An RNFA is an experienced perioperative (operating room) nurse who has completed...
In November, 2012, the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) announced that it now offers fellowship designation to nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and hospital medicine practice administrators. According to the SHM's press release, it is the only medical...
MSPs and credentials committee members must sort through a myriad of terms, acronyms, and licensing bodies when credentialing and privileging healthcare professionals. The process is no different when it comes to credentialing and privileging midwives. It is imperative to understand the...
To keep up with today's complex privileging requirements, MSPs need to understand the growing roles of APPs and how they integrate with the medical staff. Pursuant to 21 CFR § 1300.01(b28), the term "mid-level practitioner" (otherwise known as APP), specifically means an...
On November 18, 2011, CMS released a new change to the Conditions of Participation (CoP) and Interpretative Guidelines under Transmittal 72. This transmittal required further clarification following the initial requirement that all rehabilitation and respiratory providers writing...
As part of President Obama's executive order "Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review," which aims to reduce unnecessarily burdensome rules, CMS has granted hospitals and medical staffs greater flexibility in several key areas. The updated Conditions of Participation (CoP)...