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   Did You Know?...

Did you know ... that medical staff privileges must be created, pre-approved and supportable by your facility to be offered to a privilegable appliant?  [Return to Top]

Oftentimes the "new privilege" is brought to the attention of physician leaders (Credentials Committee and or Medical Executive Committee) when an applicant asks for a new (and or special request) privilege. The governing board has the ultimate authority and responsibility to parameter clinical privileges to match the facility support capabilities.

Here is an example: let’s say an orthopaedic surgeon applies for general orthopaedic surgery privileges, and writes in the special request privilege of total joint replacement. Your facility does not offer total joint replacement surgery, as support services (such as in-facility physical therapy or equipment (operative and patient care) or nursing expertise) are not in-place. The facility can simply ask the applicant to withdraw the special request as the facility does not offer the privilege for the reasons above. Such withdrawal of a privilege request does not trigger reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). Any concern by physician or administrative leaders on NPDB notification potential should be discussed with counsel familiar with the legislation.

Did you know ... your credentialing tasks for the operating room vendors don’t need to be as challenging as you might think!  [Return to Top]

Inventory those who are coming into patient care areas (who are not on staff nor employed). Next, find out who invited and who is monitoring said individual. See if the entity the individual is representing has credentialing information and as for it. Remember – the hospital’s governing body has the right and obligation to limit who is providing and / or directing patient care in their facility. Remember that other requirements – such as confidentiality assurances – will also need consideration.

Did you know ... that you have options for accreditation at your hospital?  [Return to Top]

Absolutely! Here they are:

  1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – conducted by your state’s health department personnel.
  2. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
  3. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
  4. The National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO)

Did you know ... there is a distinct difference between a “provisional medical staff appointment” period and a “focused practitioner performance evaluation” (FPPE)?  [Return to Top]

A “provisional appointment” refers to the category of membership on a medical staff and specifications of what rights and membership-based privileges / obligations are associated with it. A provisional appointment has less rights and privileges than an active staff appointment. An “FPPE” period is a medical staff competency assessment policy-driven period of focused evaluation on privilege exercise for all newly privileged practitioners, or a practitioner who has been identified as having potential competency and /or patient safety concerns.

Did you know ... there is a new requirement for dispute resolution from JCAHO?  [Return to Top]

If your VP of Medical Affairs and your President of Medical Staff disagree on a policy or process, don’t wait and let this fall off of your radar screen. Ask physician leaders for an expected date of resolution on the matter. If it does not appear to be forthcoming, let them know you will place the matter on the agenda for the Medical Executive Committee to review and/or assist with resolving. Work up your chain of command to help get a satisfactory resolution – the sooner, the better.

Did you know ... JCAHO’s website has very helpful information posted and they update content fairly often?  [Return to Top]

Pay particular attention to the FAQ section (http://www.jcaho.org) for Hospitals and Standards. There’s a great core privileges vs. clinical privilege options post!

Did you know ... your medical staff bylaws and related peer review policy stipulate than an external peer review process MUST be in place?  [Return to Top]

The means to stimulate external peer review is necessary per JCAHO. Utilization of a “trusted resource” that offers actively practicing, board certified physicians and other practitioners to render objective peer review opinions is offered by professionals at The Quality Management Consulting Group, Ltd. (QMCG). QMCG will provide you with a no-cost / no-obligation proposal and curriculum vitae of a suggested consulting physician to meet your external peer review needs.

Did you know ... a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) deemed authority was named in late 2008?  [Return to Top]

Yes! Optional accreditation via the National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) is now in place. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has a competitor …

Did you know ... JCAHO’s six general competencies for medical staff evaluation is suggested, not required?  [Return to Top]

It’s true: medical staff competency evaluation is suggested, not required. Read the introduction to the JCAHO Medical Staff chapter and see for yourself. Or, visit them online to learn more: www.jhaco.org.

Did you know ... there is loads of valuable information on credentialing, privileging, medical staff leadership, performance improvement and policy information available online?  [Return to Top]

Visit www.NAMSS.org and/or www.NAHQ.org – free and updated information about these hot topics await you!

Did you know ... your attorneys usually only focus in certain areas of practice?  [Return to Top]

Remember – it is imperative to have an attorney experienced in certain medical staff/healthcare matters representing you and your interests. Some areas your counsel should specialize in include: medical staff governance documents, potential for adverse action, fair hearings, dealing with disruptive and/or impaired practitioners, and HIPAA / privacy matters. For more information on qualified counsel visit www.bricker.com.

Did you know ... medical staff information is often readily available at your state chapter of the National Association for Medical Staff Services (NAMSS)?  [Return to Top]

For example, Ohio’s chapter is called, “Ohio Association of Medical Staff Services” (OAMSS). Visit www.OAMSS.org and find a colleague to connect with!

Did you know ... Allied Health Practitioners (according to JCAHO standards and some state laws) must be afforded due process if they face an adverse recommendation?  [Return to Top]

First, look to your AHP manual and hospital policies to determine if such due process is in place. If not, consult with your legal counsel to develop a procedure compliant with the law.

Did you know ... the Ohio Department of Health is now accepting certificate of need applications to relocate long-term care beds to a contiguous county?  [Return to Top]

The application must meet the following conditions: a) The beds proposed for relocation must be licensed nursing home beds from an existing nursing home to another existing nursing home located in a contiguous county; b) No more than 30 beds may be proposed for relocation; c) After the proposed relocation, there will be existing nursing home beds remaining in the source county; and d) the beds are proposed to be licensed nursing home beds at the receiving facility.  See ORC 3702.594

Did you know ... the Ohio Department of Health will post the results of the long-term care bed need formula in April, 2010?  [Return to Top]

The results of the formula will identify those counties with too many long-term care beds and those counties with too few beds. Applications for certificate of need to relocate beds from a county with too many beds to a county with too few beds will be accepted from July 1 through July 30, 2010 for a comparative review process.

Did you know ... the quality criteria for a certificate of need is now less stringent and only applies to the nursing home operator and the applicant entity for certificate of need?  [Return to Top]

Level G and J citations are no longer considered and accommodation is made if the proposed operator operates more than one nursing home in Ohio. See ORC 3702.59

Did you know ... the certificate of need application form was revised, effective October 16, 2009?  [Return to Top]

All certificate of need applications submitted on or after this date must use the new form.

Did you know ... if you provide solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, cardiac catheterization, adult open heart surgery, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, or pediatric intensive care services, notice to the Ohio Department of Health is required each time the service’s medical director or provider’s authorized representative for the service is changed?  [Return to Top]

A revised attestation of compliance must be filed with the Ohio Department of Health within 30 days of any change.

Did you know ... if you provide solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, cardiac catheterization, adult open heart surgery, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, or pediatric intensive care services, the Ohio Department of Health will conduct an on-site inspection of your service every 3 years?  [Return to Top]

Our Regulatory Services line can conduct an assessment of your service to identify compliance issues and means for correction to ensure that your service is in compliance with Department rules.

Did you know ... if your hospital is authorized to operate long-term care beds, it is imperative that the beds be correctly registered on your Annual Hospital Registration Report?  [Return to Top]

Failure to properly register the beds may result in an inadvertent surrender of the beds or inability to avail your facility to all options regarding relocation of the beds. Our Regulatory Services line can review your Report to ensure accurate reporting. If the report is not accurate, we can work with the Ohio Department of Health to make the necessary corrections.

   

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