Are there any circumstances under which The Joint Commission will permit an extension to medical staff reappointment time frames, such as during a disaster ?

Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.

If an established provider’s privileges are scheduled to expire during the time of the declared national emergency,  The Joint Commission will allow an automatic extension of medical staff reappointment beyond the 2-year period under the following conditions:

• A national emergency has officially been declared
• The organization has activated its emergency management plan
• Extending the duration of providers’ privileges during an emergency is NOT prohibited by State Law
   

After the state of emergency ends (national, federal, or local level depending upon which allows the most time to address), organizations have 60 days to complete these requirements.  The organization determines how the extension will be documented.

Additional Resources:
FAQ:  Emergency Management - Requirements for Granting Privileges During a Disaster
FAQ:  Emergency Management – Privileging Requirements When Providing Services via Telehealth Links During a Disaster
FAQ:  Credentialing and Privileging - Temporary Privileges