Credentialing and Privileging - Temporary Privileges
What are the requirements for granting temporary privileges ?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
There are two circumstances in which temporary privileges (See MS.06.01.13) may be granted. Each circumstance has different criteria for granting privileges. The acceptable circumstances for which granting temporary privileges include:
The medical staff bylaws at MS.01.01.01 EP 14 must include a description of the privileging process including temporary and disaster privileges (see EM.02.02.13). The description of temporary privileges would need to include the elements of performance outlined at MS.06.01.13 for the two acceptable reasons, i.e., important patient care need and new applicant temporary privileges.
As noted at MS.06.01.13, new applicant temporary privileges are granted when the applicant is awaiting review and approval by the organized medical staff, or if delegated to the MEC, etc.
The second, and most common reason for use of temporary privileges is to meet an important patient care need. The need must be documented in the credentials file at the time privileges are granted. It typically appears as a recommendation from the medical staff president or designee to the CEO who grants the privileges. It could also appear in a statement by the CEO as to the reason for granting the temporary privilege(s).
Examples of important patient care needs may include, but are not limited to:
There are two circumstances in which temporary privileges (See MS.06.01.13) may be granted. Each circumstance has different criteria for granting privileges. The acceptable circumstances for which granting temporary privileges include:
1. To fulfill an important patient care, treatment, and service need, or
2. When an applicant for new privileges* with a complete application that raises no concerns is awaiting review and approval by the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) and the governing body.
2. When an applicant for new privileges* with a complete application that raises no concerns is awaiting review and approval by the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) and the governing body.
*Note: “Applicant for new privileges” includes an individual applying for clinical privileges at the hospital for the first time; an individual currently holding clinical privileges who is requesting one or more additional privileges; and an individual who is in the reappointment/re-privileging process and is requesting one or more additional privileges.
The medical staff bylaws at MS.01.01.01 EP 14 must include a description of the privileging process including temporary and disaster privileges (see EM.02.02.13). The description of temporary privileges would need to include the elements of performance outlined at MS.06.01.13 for the two acceptable reasons, i.e., important patient care need and new applicant temporary privileges.
As noted at MS.06.01.13, new applicant temporary privileges are granted when the applicant is awaiting review and approval by the organized medical staff, or if delegated to the MEC, etc.
The second, and most common reason for use of temporary privileges is to meet an important patient care need. The need must be documented in the credentials file at the time privileges are granted. It typically appears as a recommendation from the medical staff president or designee to the CEO who grants the privileges. It could also appear in a statement by the CEO as to the reason for granting the temporary privilege(s).
Examples of important patient care needs may include, but are not limited to:
- the care of a patient requires specialized skills that no currently privileged practitioner possesses
- a currently privileged practitioner will be absent from the organization and someone is needed to cover the associated patients during the absence (commonly termed locum tenems)
- the patient care volume exceeds the level that can be handled by currently privileged practitioners and additional practitioners are needed to handle the volume
- Requiring an anesthesiologist to stop practicing at reappointment, when the organization only has three anesthesiologists which results in a backlog of surgeries, would be an important patient care need issue and would justify the use of temporary privileges at reappointment.
- However, requiring a pediatrician to stop practicing at reappointment, when the organization has ten other pediatricians that could admit the children, would probably not result or meet the definition of an 'important patient care need', therefore, may not justify the use of temporary privileges at reappointment.
Last updated on October 07, 2020
Manual:
Critical Access Hospital
Chapter:
Medical Staff MS