CPCS CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary Credentialing

Question 1

What is the maximum duration that Joint Commission standards allow a hospital to use a 'expedited' or temporary credentialing process for a locum tenens physician before full credentials must be verified?

Accepted Answer

120 days

Answer

TJC permits expedited credentialing for locum tenens practitioners for up to 120 days, after which full primary source verification must be completed.

Question 2

A locum tenens agency claims they have already verified a practitioner's credentials and sends a credential summary. Can the hospital rely solely on this summary?

Accepted Answer

No; the hospital must independently verify credentials or obtain primary source verification from the agency under a documented agreement

Answer

Hospitals remain responsible for credentialing decisions and must either independently verify or have a formal agreement with the agency that confirms PSV was performed to accreditation standards.

Question 3

Under CMS Conditions of Participation, which practitioner information MUST be queried from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) during the temporary privileging process?

Accepted Answer

Any adverse actions, malpractice payments, and licensure actions for all physicians and dentists

Answer

CMS CoP requires hospitals to query the NPDB for adverse actions, malpractice payments, and licensure actions for physicians and dentists as part of any credentialing or temporary privileging process.

Question 4

A hospital needs a surgeon immediately due to an unexpected vacancy. Which mechanism allows privileges to be granted rapidly without full credentials committee review?

Accepted Answer

Emergency or disaster credentialing provisions authorized by the medical staff bylaws or emergency management plan

Answer

Most accreditation standards and bylaws include emergency credentialing provisions that allow expedited granting of privileges during urgent or disaster situations.

Question 5

Which document must be on file BEFORE a locum tenens practitioner sees their first patient under temporary privileges?

Accepted Answer

Completed temporary privilege application, current licensure verification, and NPDB query results

Answer

Before patient care begins, the hospital must have a completed application, verified current licensure, and NPDB query results at minimum to grant temporary privileges.

(CPCS) Certified Professional Credentialing Specialist Practice Test

(CPCS) Certified Professional Credentialing Specialist Practice Test

CPCS CPCS Locum Tenens and Temporary Credentialing