CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary/Disaster Privileging Flashcards
6 cards from real CPCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary/Disaster Privileging flashcards as text
What is the primary regulatory framework that governs temporary privileging for locum tenens practitioners at accredited hospitals?
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.
Under The Joint Commission standards, temporary privileges may be granted in which two situations?
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.
A locum tenens physician arrives to cover a hospital unit. Primary source verification has not yet been completed. Which action is most appropriate?
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.
Who typically has authority to grant temporary privileges to a locum tenens provider when the medical executive committee is not available?
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.
What is the maximum duration The Joint Commission generally recommends for temporary privileges before full credentialing must be completed?
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.
A hospital grants locum tenens privileges to a surgeon. Under which condition should those temporary privileges be immediately rescinded?
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.