Action Alerts

Revised Credentialing and Privileging Standards
June 2006

JCAHOnline June 2006 just announced the revised credentialing and privileging of practitioners standards for 1/1/2007, and one standard (the Focused Professional Practice Evaluation) requirement for 1/1/2008.

As we await the actual standards release (no projected date offered in the article), the announcement gives a preview of what is to come.

The focus of the revisions is to make credentialing and privileging a more objective and evidenced-based process, to facilitate continuous monitoring of performance, to help identify substandard performance, and to provide a basis for intervening when safety and quality of care issues are identified. 

The revised standards expand the competencies to be considered in practitioner evaluations and in 1/1/2008 will require a “Focused Professional Practice Evaluation, and an Ongoing Practice Evaluation (for maintaining privileges)”. The introduction of these concepts does not alter the existing fundament expectations of the organization’s “vetting” (to subject to thorough examination or evaluation) process that ultimately requires governing body approval of recommended privileges.

This timely and important information was gladly brought to you by your preferred resource for credentialing, privileging, peer review and other medical staff management and evaluation needs, The Quality Management Consulting Group, Ltd. (QMCG). Call us for a confidential review of your needs and a complimentary proposal for services at 614/227-4848.