According to John Lynch, MD, the medical director of Harbor View Medical Center’s infection prevention and control program, the Seattle hospital has reported the first case of hospital-acquired novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The patient was receiving treatment at the hospital for another condition when he is believed to have contracted the virus.

After pushback from minority communities and people with disabilities, Massachusetts has revised its care-rationing guidelines in the case of a drastic surge in COVID-19 patients.

In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the CRC team has seen a rise in the need for credentialing and privileging resources, and we've particularly noticed the increased use of telemedicine services, both to screen patients for COVID-19 but also to allow patients to schedule appointments with practitioners without leaving their homes. The CRC team realizes that these are trying times, and we want to know how we can best support you through them. Share your top telemedicine and COVID-19 concerns with Associate Editor Karla Accorto at kaccorto@hcpro.comso we can work to provide the content you need.

Each healthcare facility needs a disaster preparedness plan, which should include steps the facility will take in the event of a natural disaster or other event that temporarily overtaxes its resources. One element of such disaster plans is language ensuring that appropriate volunteer licensed independent practitioners (LIP) can be accessed to assist when necessary. Consider the following sample emergency management policy and procedure as the COVID-19 pandemic and the world’s response evolves, in case your organization needs to credential non-staff volunteer practitioners for disaster responsibilities.

Organizations need to be aware of whether their state requires specific disclosures (such as privacy agreements, the process for filing complaints, etc.) to be made in writing prior to a provider delivering patient care via telemedicine. Some organizations consider originating sites to be contracted providers governed by a telemedicine agreement in which the credentialing is delegated, and they are contracted with the other hospital to provide services via telemedicine. Others opt to add them as consulting members of the medical staff, rather than consider telemedicine a contracted service. Download this sample bylaws language for privileges in telemedicine.