Medical Staff (MS) (Hospital and Hospital Clinics / Hospitals)
Credentialing and Privileging - Consultants
Modify | December 31, 2016
Does The Joint Commission require licensed independent practitioners (LIP) that provide consultative services to be credentialed or privileged?
Yes, consultants that evaluate patients, then recommend care, treatment, or services are required to be credentialed and privileged. Compliance with the FPPE and OPPE standards also apply.
The Joint Commission describes a consultant as an LIP who was asked to evaluate a patient and provide consultation, by the way of an order from another LIP. The consultant’s findings are entered into the medical record and may be used by other practitioners to determine the ongoing course of care, treatment, or services.
Additionally, the requirements found at RC.02.01.01 EP 2 require that the medical record contain documentation of any consultation reports. Therefore, organizations need to ensure that consultants have been identified as authorized to make entries into the medical record (see RC.01.02.01 EP 1).
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