Tip of the week: Privileging criteria isn't just for new applicants

Many of you wonder what CMS and The Joint Commission are really looking for when it comes to privileging. Both of these organizations are looking for objective and evidence-based process for assessing an individual practitioner’s skills. They want to see hospitals define the education, training, and current experience required for both the initial applicant and re-applicants. In my experience, hospitals often do a great job creating strict criteria for initial applicants but then fall short in defining the criteria required for a practitioner to maintain those privileges. Be sure your process for evaluating those who already hold privileges just as strong as your process for evaluating initial applicants.

This week’s tip is an excerpt from “Tools to Tackle Credentialing and Privileging Challenges,” with Sally Pelletier, CPMSM, CPCS, and Mary Hoppa, MD, MBA, CMSL. This Web cast is part of the Medical Staff Virtual Training Workshop Webcast series.