Two groups, one on each side of the CRNA practice authority question, both say they want what is best for patients and the healthcare system in general.

There’s a reason why the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommends asking patients if they’re okay with a concurrent surgery before operating. A Manhattan doctor found that out the hard way, after two former patients sued him last month for $14 million, according to the Boston Globe.

CMS and The Joint Commission require individuals other than licensed physicians who provide a “medical level of care” in the hospital to be credentialed and privileged in the same fashion as physicians. As advanced practice professionals (APP) have a greater presence in medical centers, some questions regarding how to credential and privilege these healthcare professionals naturally arise. This policy and procedure outlines the requirements, application, appointment, and review process.

The number of non-physician practitioners credentialed by hospitals and health systems is growing exponentially. Some observers estimate that more than 300,000 clinicians nationwide fit this description. A variety of labels is used to characterize these caregivers, including allied health practitioners, midlevel providers, and advanced practice professionals. Within the ranks of these providers are NPs, PAs, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, registered nurse first assistants for surgical procedures, and an expanding group of other caregivers.

Cozy up with a cup of coffeee and catch up on the latest credentialing news. CRC members can peruse all the online articles from the January 2018 issues of CRCJ and MSB—as well as full-color, designed PDFs—here:

• CRCJ
• MSB

To access the relevant full-issue PDF, select "DOWNLOAD FULL ISSUE" at the top of the page.

21st Century Oncology Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida, which operates 179 cancer centers, has agreed to pay $26 million after admitting it knowingly submitted false attestations to CMS as part of the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program. Under the program, physicians may receive incentive payments and avoid downward adjustments to certain Medicare claims if they can attest to their meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

The 2018 CRC Symposium begins Monday at 7 AM so your first stop should be the registration desk. Then join us for a continental breakfast in Grand Ballroom A & F from 7-8 AM before our welcome and keynote with our veteran faculty. We’ll also honor the winners of the 2018 CRC Excellence in Medical Staff Collaboration Award!

Even if you’ve joined us at previous CRC Symposiums, we’re introducing exciting new features to this year’s conference. Find out about our three tracks, expanded speakers, and raffles.

With several experienced HCPro staffers heading to Las Vegas, 2018 CRC Symposium attendees are in good hands. From event registration and hotel reservation questions to navigating our conference app and the scenic city of Las Vegas, we’ve got all your conference bases covered. Learn a little more about the on-site staff and we’ll see you Monday!

Share your CRC Symposium experiences with your fellow attendees! One of the features of the conference mobile app is the ability to post comments and photos to the Activity Feed for all to see. The attendee with the best posts will also win a free HCPro book. We will announce the winner through the app on Tuesday, February 6, at 3 PM, so don’t forget to download the app and start posting.

While you’re in Las Vegas attending the 2018 CRC Symposium, take some time to enjoy the local sights. Post photos of yourself at any of the sights listed here with the hashtag #CRCS2018. We’ll randomly select a post by an attendee from Twitter or the conference app to win an HCPro book from our booth in the exhibit hall. The more photos you post, the better your chances of winning.

Attending the 2018 CRC Symposium is sure to keep you busy, provide valuable education, and great networking opportunities, but make sure you leave some time to enjoy the Las Vegas area. When you first think of Las Vegas, you likely think of slot machines, shows, and parties. But a number of alternative activities in the area are real crowd pleasers too. Check out our list of local attractions.

Attending the 2018 CRC Symposium? Don't forget to download the app in order to take full advantage of the conference. The app features all conference materials, a list of speakers and attendees, and ways to enjoy Las Vegas and win prizes! 

To download our conference app, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for H3.Group Events. The app is available for iPhone, iPad®, Android, and HTML5 for BlackBerry®. Sign in using your conference registration email address and the password crc2018.

Look for the H3.Group logo when downloading the app: