CPCS CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary/Disaster Privileging 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary regulatory framework that governs temporary privileging for locum tenens practitioners at accredited hospitals?
- State nurse practice acts
- CMS Conditions of Participation and accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission) (Correct answer)
- NPDB mandatory reporting rules
- AMA Code of Medical Ethics
Correct answer: CMS Conditions of Participation and accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission)
Temporary privileging for locum tenens must comply with CMS Conditions of Participation and accreditation body standards such as The Joint Commission, which set the requirements for granting privileges.
Question 2: Under The Joint Commission standards, temporary privileges may be granted in which two situations?
- Staff shortages and budget constraints
- Patient care needs and to allow a practitioner to complete an initial application (Correct answer)
- Locum tenens coverage and research projects
- International practitioners and new graduates only
Correct answer: Patient care needs and to allow a practitioner to complete an initial application
TJC permits temporary privileges when there is an important patient care, treatment, or service need, or to allow a practitioner to complete the credentialing process while their application is pending.
Question 3: A locum tenens physician arrives to cover a hospital unit. Primary source verification has not yet been completed. Which action is most appropriate?
- Allow the physician to practice independently with department chief supervision
- Grant temporary privileges only after verifying licensure and querying the NPDB at minimum (Correct answer)
- Delay all patient care until full credentialing is complete
- Allow practice based solely on the staffing agency's representation
Correct answer: Grant temporary privileges only after verifying licensure and querying the NPDB at minimum
At minimum, hospitals must verify current licensure and query the NPDB before granting temporary privileges, even on an expedited basis.
Question 4: Who typically has authority to grant temporary privileges to a locum tenens provider when the medical executive committee is not available?
- The charge nurse of the unit
- The Chief Medical Officer or Medical Staff President under defined bylaws authority (Correct answer)
- The hospital CEO without medical staff involvement
- The credentialing coordinator after completing verification
Correct answer: The Chief Medical Officer or Medical Staff President under defined bylaws authority
Medical staff bylaws typically delegate authority to grant temporary privileges to the CMO, Chief of Staff, or Medical Staff President when the full committee cannot convene in time.
Question 5: What is the maximum duration The Joint Commission generally recommends for temporary privileges before full credentialing must be completed?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 120 days
Correct answer: 90 days
While TJC does not set a hard maximum in all scenarios, 90 days is the widely accepted practice limit for temporary privileges, aligning with the standard credentialing cycle.
Question 6: A hospital grants locum tenens privileges to a surgeon. Under which condition should those temporary privileges be immediately rescinded?
- The surgeon requests additional call coverage responsibilities
- A red flag is discovered during primary source verification, such as a license sanction (Correct answer)
- The original credentialing file is not received within two weeks
- Another permanent surgeon returns from leave early
Correct answer: A red flag is discovered during primary source verification, such as a license sanction
If a red flag such as a license sanction, malpractice judgment, or adverse NPDB report is discovered during verification, temporary privileges must be immediately rescinded pending investigation.
CPCS CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary/Disaster Privileging 1
What is the primary regulatory framework that governs temporary privileging for locum tenens practitioners at accredited hospitals?