Health Screening - Licensed Practitioners
Are non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners included in the health screening requirements to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
- For employees, and others to whom the HR standards apply, health screenings are a requirement. For non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, screenings must be made available in some cases, but each organization may decide whether these screenings are mandatory if not required by state law/local regulatory requirements. The health status of an applicant for medical staff privileges is also addressed in the HR chapter (AHC, OBS) or MS chapter (HAP and CAH).
- Treatment or referral must be initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non- employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, who "have, or are suspected of having, an infectious disease that puts others at risk". (Action is needed only if the organization becomes aware of such an exposure).
- Treatment or referral is initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non- employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, who "have been occupationally exposed to an infectious disease". (Action is needed only if the organization becomes aware of such an exposure).
When making a decision as to how to address these issues, organizations are encouraged to consider the following factors:
- The use of evidence-based national guidelines, such as the CDC, or, in the absence of such guidelines, expert consensus to develop an organizational plan for developing guidelines to prevent disease transmission in healthcare settings.
- Many states require such screenings for all healthcare workers, including physicians and licensed practitioners.
- Biologically, all persons providing services in healthcare organizations are equally capable of transmitting disease.
- Legal and ethical considerations exist related to potential outbreak situations.
Manual:
Hospital and Hospital Clinics
Chapter:
Infection Prevention and Control IC
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: November 17, 2022
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: April 11, 2016
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on November 17, 2022
with update notes of: Review only, FAQ is current
Types of changes and an explanation of change type:
Editorial changes only: Format changes only. No changes to content. |
Review only, FAQ is current: Periodic review completed, no changes to content. |
Reflects new or updated requirements: Changes represent new or revised requirements.
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