Emergency Management – Privileging Requirements When Providing Services via Telehealth Links During a Disaster
What is required in order to provide care via telehealth services in an emergency or disaster situation ?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
The applicable requirements that address disaster privileging are found in the Emergency Management (EM) chapter of the Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Manuals at EM.12.02.03. NOTE: The disaster privileging option ONLY applies when the organization has implemented their emergency management plan.
Licensed Practitioners (LP) CURRENTLY credentialed and privileged by the organization, who would now provide the same services via a telehealth link to patients, would not require any additional credentialing or privileging. The medical staff determines which services would be appropriate to be delivered via a telehealth link. There is no requirement that 'telehealth' be delineated as a separate privilege.
For volunteer Licensed Practitioners that are NOT currently credentialed and privileged by the organization, disaster privileges may be granted to volunteer LIPs by following the requirements outlined in the Emergency Management chapter of the accreditation manual.
Additional Resources
FAQ: Requirements for Granting Privileges During a Disaster.
The applicable requirements that address disaster privileging are found in the Emergency Management (EM) chapter of the Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Manuals at EM.12.02.03. NOTE: The disaster privileging option ONLY applies when the organization has implemented their emergency management plan.
Licensed Practitioners (LP) CURRENTLY credentialed and privileged by the organization, who would now provide the same services via a telehealth link to patients, would not require any additional credentialing or privileging. The medical staff determines which services would be appropriate to be delivered via a telehealth link. There is no requirement that 'telehealth' be delineated as a separate privilege.
For volunteer Licensed Practitioners that are NOT currently credentialed and privileged by the organization, disaster privileges may be granted to volunteer LIPs by following the requirements outlined in the Emergency Management chapter of the accreditation manual.
Additional Resources
FAQ: Requirements for Granting Privileges During a Disaster.
Manual:
Hospital and Hospital Clinics
Chapter:
Medical Staff MS
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: February 04, 2022
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: March 16, 2020
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on May 11, 2023
with update notes of: Editorial changes only
Types of changes and an explanation of change type:
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Reflects new or updated requirements: Changes represent new or revised requirements.
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