Up-close access to industry insiders, scads of CME credits, and unrivaled BBQ are just a few reasons to register for the 2017 CRC Symposium, kicking off April 6 in Austin, Texas.

Privileges are permissions that have been granted to a physician or other licensed independent practitioner to provide specific patient care services, which may include the ability to admit, treat, manage, and perform procedures. The term “privileging” refers to the pro­cess the hospital and medical staff use to delineate, review, and approve these services.

The United States could face a shortage of 40,800–104,900 physicians by 2030, according to a study published last Tuesday by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

The study, conducted by the London-based financial services company IHS Markit, attributes these deficiencies to the demands of the nation’s expanding and aging population outstripping the growth of its physician workforce.

"Patients admitted to hospitals during TJC survey weeks have significantly lower mortality than during nonsurvey weeks, particularly in major teaching hospitals. These results suggest that changes in practice occurring during periods of surveyor observation may meaningfully affect patient mortality."

—Physician researchers share their conclusions and takeaways in a brand-new JAMA study, "Patient Mortality During Unannounced Accreditation Surveys at US Hospitals." 

If you’re joining us in Austin, Texas, for the 2017 CRC Symposium, why not extend your stay and check out everything the city has to offer?

There are a variety of viable ways to approach the delineation of medical history and physical exam (H&P) privileges. Attached is a sampling of core privilege statements for various disciplines. Some address H&Ps in explicit terms, and others use alternative language. 

In some form or another, almost every practitioner has either heard of or been involved in a privileging criteria dispute. Fortunately, there are ways to resolve the situation—or to avoid it altogether.

Navigating the reappointment process, with its patchwork of expiration dates and verification expectations, can be difficult for ambulatory facilities, which often lack the dedicated credentialing presence of their acute care counterparts.

To stay ahead of critical practitioner vetting deadlines, such as privilege expiration dates, consider creating a checklist that accounts for major federal regulations, state laws, and organization-specific circumstances.

Nobody likes a bully, and as we all know, bullies can come in many shapes and sizes. In the healthcare setting, bullying is a disruptive behavior that threatens the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.

Let us know whether your department performs tasks related to Medicare and Medicaid provider-supplier enrollment. You must be signed in with your free or paid CRC account to participate.

Have a hot medical staff or credentialing topic you’d like your peers to weigh in on? Send proposed questions to CRC Editor Delaney Rebernik at drebernik@hcpro.com, and you could see your idea showcased in a future poll.