Lutheran Hospital - Health Professional's Manual

Lutheran Hospital of Indiana

Fort Wayne, Indiana

LIMITED PRIVILEGE

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MANUAL

ADOPTED BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JUNE 28, 1993

ADVISORY BOARD APPROVAL

JULY 27, 1993

JULY 25, 1995

JUNE 10, 1997

JUNE 8, 1999

JUNE 12, 2001

JUNE 10, 2003

JUNE 14, 2005

JUNE 12, 2007

REVISED

OCTOBER 14, 1997

MAY 10, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

1.0  Specified Professional Personnel .............................................................. 1

 

Page 2

2.0  Allied Health Professionals .........................................................................................5

3.0  Amendment ..........................................................................................................9

4.0  Amendment ..........................................................................................................10

SPECIFIED PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL

1.1

Definition

Specified Professional Personnel (or "Specified Professionals") are certain

nonpractitioners who provide independent professional medical services to patients at the

Hospital. These individuals must be licensed by the appropriate state licensing

authorities. At present, Specified Professional Personnel include only podiatrists and

psychologists who otherwise satisfy the requirements of this section. Privileges for

Specified Professional Personnel shall be based upon the individual's professional

 

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training, experience, and demonstrated competency.

1.2

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility in general shall be determined on the basis of the following criteria:

A.

Specified Professional Personnel shall exercise independent judgment within their

areas of competence; provided, however, that a member of the Medical Staff

shall have ultimate responsibility for patient care and shall supervise and direct

the general medical management of each patient under the care of a Specified

Professional;

B.

Specified Professional Personnel shall record reports and progress notes on

patients' records and write orders to the extent established by the Medical Staff;

C.

The Medical Staff shall delineate in its rules and regulations the clinical duties and

responsibilities of such Specified Professional Personnel.

1.3

Qualifications of Specified Professional Personnel

Only those Specified Professionals who hold a license, certificate, or other credentials

required by applicable state law and satisfy the same basic qualifications required for

those eligible for Medical Staff membership are eligible to provide specified professional

services in the Hospital. The Credentials Committee may, in consultation with the Chief

Executive Officer and the Medical Executive Committee, establish such additional

qualifications required of Specified Professional Personnel as are deemed appropriate for

patient care purposes.

1.4

Procedure for Specification of Services

1.4.A

Position Evaluation and Description

Written guidelines for the performance of specified services by Specified

Professional Personnel will be developed by the

Chief Executive

Officer and the Medical Executive Committee with input, when

applicable, from the practitioner chairman of the clinical service

involved. For each category of Specified Professional Personnel, such

guidelines must include, without limitation:

(1)

Specification of classes of patients who may be seen;

(2)

Description of the services to be provided, procedures to be

performed, and responsibility for medical record completion and

ordering of drugs;

(3)

Definition of the degree of assistance that may be provided to

Specified Professional Personnel in the treating of patients on

Hospital premises and any limitation thereof, including the degree

of Specified Professional Personnel or physician supervision

required for each service;

(4)

Procedure for admission and discharge of patients for whom

Specified Professional Personnel are to provide services.

 

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1.5

Prerogatives of Specified Professional Personnel

Specified Professional Personnel have the following prerogatives:

1.5.A

Provide Specifically Designated Patient Care Services

Provide specifically designated patient care services under the overall

supervision or direction of the chairman of the Surgery Service or other

clinical service chairman as deemed appropriate by the Chief Executive

Officer and the Medical Executive Committee; however, the

responsibility of the practitioner providing supervision or direction is

limited to that set forth in Section 1.8 of this manual.

1.5.B

Write Orders to Extent Specified

Write orders only to the extent specified in the Medical Staff Rules and

Regulations or the position description required under Section 1.4.A(2)

of this Section, but not beyond the scope of the Specified Professional's

license, certificate, or other legal credential.

1.5.C

Attend Clinical Service, Hospital, Staff Education Programs

Attend, upon request and without vote, Staff, Hospital, and clinical

service education programs and clinical meetings related to their

disciplines or where their special training and knowledge are desirable.

1.5.D

Other Prerogatives

Exercise such other prerogatives as the Credentials Committee, with the

approval of the Medical Executive Committee, may accord them in

general or as a specific category of Specified Professional Personnel.

1.6

Obligations of Specified Professional Personnel

1.6.A

Basic Responsibilities

Specified Professional Personnel must meet the same basic qualifications

and obligations as required for Medical Staff members, or as applicable to

the Specified Professional Personnel personnel's field of practice

1.6.B

Appropriate Responsibility

Retain appropriate responsibility within their area of professional

competence for the continuous care and supervision of each patient in the

Hospital for whom they are providing services, or arrange a suitable

alternate for such are and supervision.

1.6.C

Quality Management Program

Participate as appropriate in the quality management program activities,

supervise new appointees of the same profession during the provisional

period, and discharge such other functions as may be requested by the

MedicalExecutive Committee.

1.6.D

Malpractice Insurance

 

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Specified Professional Personnel shall carry in force malpractice

insurance equal to that required of Medical Staff members or as deemed

appropriate by the Medical Staff Executive Committee, and, if permitted

by law, meet the requirements of I.C. 16-9.5, et seq, to be qualified health

care providers.

1.7

Applications

Applications and credentials concerning specified professional privileges shall be

submitted and processed in the same manner as that prescribed for Medical Staff

members in the Credentials Committee Procedure Manual.

1.8

Special Conditions for Specified Professional Personnel Status Privileges

Requests for clinical privileges from Specified Professional Personnel are processed in the

same manner specified in Article III. Surgical procedures performed by Specified

Professional Personnel shall be under the overall supervision of the chairman of surgery.

All Specified Professional Personnel patients shall receive a basic medical appraisal by a

physician member of the Medical Staff. A physician member of the Medical Staff shall

also be responsible for the care of any medical problems that may be present at admission

or that may arise during hospitalization and shall advise on the risk and effect of any

proposed surgical or special procedure on the total health status of the patient. If such

physician believes that the risk of the proposed procedures is not medically indicated,

then the chairman of surgery will decide the issue in case of dispute. The Medical Staff

member is not responsible for the care rendered by the Specified Professional, but only

for the medical care and supervision.

1.9

Limitation of Prerogatives

The prerogatives set forth under each membership category are general in nature and

may be subject to limitation by special conditions attached to a particular membership, by

other sections of the Medical Staff Bylaws (the "Bylaws") and by the Medical Staff Rules

and Regulations.

1.10

Appellate Rights of Limited Privilege Health Professionals

1.10.A

Limited Privilege Health Professionals, including both Allied Health

Professionals and Specified Professional Personnel shall have no

appellate rights

relating to the denial of privileges. Appellate rights, as

more fully set forth

herein, shall be limited only to the suspension or

termination of privileges or

prerogatives.

1.10.B

A Limited Privilege Health Professional may appeal the suspension or

termination of privileges or prerogatives pursuant to the

following procedure:

(1)

The Limited Privilege Health Professional must submit a written

appeal

of a suspension or termination of privileges or

prerogatives to the Chief

Executive Officer of the Hospital

within 10 days of the Limited Privilege

Health Professional's

receipt of notice of such suspension or termination.

Failure to provide

a written appeal as herein described shall result in a

waiver of

the Limited Privilege Health Professional's appeal rights.

 

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(2)

The written appeal shall contain a concise statement of the

Limited

Privilege Health Professional's reasons for

appealing the suspension or

termination, and shall describe all

material facts which support the

Limited Privilege Health

Professional's appeal.

(3)

The Limited Privilege Health Professional may retain an attorney

or any

other counsel to prepare or to assist in the preparation of

the written

appeal.

(4)

Neither the Limited Privilege Health Professional nor his/her

counsel, if

any, shall have the unconditional right to make an

oral presentation in

support of the written appeal to the Chief

Executive Officer of the

Hospital. At his/her sole

discretion, the Chief Executive Officer may

agree to hear an

oral presentation in support of the written appeal. In

addition to,

and in his/her sole discretion, the Chief Executive Officer

may agree to hear an oral presentation in opposition to the written appeal

by a member of the Credentials Committee or that Committee's designee.

(5)

The Chief Executive Officer shall render a decision on the written

appeal within 30 days of the later of his receipt of the

written appeal or

oral arguments in support thereof, if any.

(6)

The Chief Executive Officer's decision shall be final.

PART II. ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2.1

Definition

An Allied Health Professional is an individual who is employed/sponsored by a Medical

Staffmember and who has been approved to provide specific services under the direct

supervision and control of his employer/ sponsor.

2.2

Qualifications of Allied Health Professionals

Only an Allied Health Professional holding a license, certificate, or such other credentials

as may be required by applicable state law and who is employed/sponsored by a

practitioner having Staff privileges is eligible to provide specific services in the Hospital.

The Credentials Committee may, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and the

MedicalExecutive Committee, establish additional qualifications required of members of

any particular category of Allied Health Professionals.

2.3

Procedure for Specification of Services and Evaluation of Application

2.3.A

Position Evaluations and Descriptions

Written guidelines for the performance of specified services by Allied

Health Professionals will be developed by the Chief Executive Officer

and the Medical Executive Committee with input, where applicable, from

the practitioner- chairman of the clinical service involved. For each

category of Allied Health Professionals, such guidelines must include,

 

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without limitation:

(1)

Specification that services may only be provided for patients of

the Allied Health Professional's employer/sponsor;

(2)

A description of the services to be provided, procedures to be

performed, equipment or special procedures or protocols that

specific tasks may involve, and responsibility for charting services

provided in the patient's medical record;

(3)

Definition of the degree of assistance that may be provided to an

Allied Health Professional in the treating of patients on Hospital

premises and any limitations thereon, including the degree of

practitioner supervision required for each service;

(4)

Each Allied Health Professional must be certified and qualified at

all times as a health care provider under the Indiana Medical

Malpractice Act (Indiana Code 16-9.5 et seq.). At the time of

initial application, a copy of the applicant's certificate of

insurance, or that of his employer/sponsor if the applicant is

covered thereunder, must be submitted.

2.3.B

Evaluation of Individual Allied Health Professional Applications

Evaluation of individual Allied Health Professionals' application is

detailed in the Credentials Committee Procedure Manual. The steps to be

followed are as follows:

(1)

An application for specified services for an Allied Health

Professional is completed by the practitioner-employer/sponsor

and the Allied Health Professional.

(2)

The completed application is submitted to the Credentials

Committee for review. The practitioner-employer/sponsor and

the Allied Health Professional may be requested to appear before

the Credentials Committee before the Committee's

recommendations are forwarded to the Medical Executive

Committee.

(3)

An individual Allied Health Professional may render only those

services for which he is specifically approved.

2.4

Prerogatives of Allied Health Professionals

An Allied Health Professional has the following prerogatives:

2.4.A

Provide Specifically Designated Services

Provide specifically designated patient care services under the supervision

or direction of a practitioner member of the Medical Staff and consistent

with the limitations stated in Section 2.3.A of this manual.

2.4.B

Write Orders to Extent Specified

 

Page 8

Write orders to the extent specified in the Medical Staff Rules and

Regulations or the position description required under Section 2.3.A of

this Manual, but not beyond the scope of the Allied Health Professional's

license, certificate, or other legal credentials.

2.4.C

Attend Education Programs

May attend, upon request, Staff, Hospital and clinical service education

programs and clinical meetings related to his discipline.

2.4.D

Other Prerogatives

Exercise such other prerogatives as the Medical Executive Committee,

with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer may accord Allied

Health Professionals in general or a specific category of Allied Health

Professionals.

2.5

Limitation of Prerogatives

The prerogatives set forth under this category are general in nature and may be subject to

limitation by special conditions attached to an Allied Health Professional's association

with the Staff, by other sections of these bylaws and related manuals, and by other

policies of the Hospital. The prerogatives of the Allied Health Professionals are limited to

those for which they have demonstrated the requisite level of education, training,

experience, and ability.

2.6

Special Conditions for Allied Health Professional Services

The employing/sponsoring practitioner is responsible for the care rendered by the Allied

Health Professional.

2.7

Temporary Permission to Provide Specific Services

Upon receipt by the Medical Staff of a completed application, temporary privileges may

be granted the Allied Health Professional by the chairman of the Credentials Committee,

the President of the Medical Staff, or by the Hospital's Medical Director.

2.8

Appellate Rights of Limited Privilege Health Professionals

2.8.A

Limited Privilege Health Professionals, including both Allied Health

Professionals and Specified Professional Personnel shall have no

appellate rights

relating to the denial of privileges. Appellate rights, as

more fully set forth

herein, shall be limited only to the suspension or

termination of privileges or

prerogatives.

2.8.B

A Limited Privilege Health Professional may appeal the suspension or

termination of privileges or prerogatives pursuant to the

following procedure:

(1)

The Limited Privilege Health Professional must submit a written

appeal

of a suspension or termination of privileges or

prerogatives to the Chief

Executive Officer of the Hospital

within 10 days of the Limited Privilege

Health Professional's

receipt of notice of such suspension or termination.

Failure to provide

 

Page 9

a written appeal as herein described shall result in a

waiver of

the Limited Privilege Health Professional's appeal rights.

(2)

The written appeal shall contain a concise statement of the

Limited

Privilege Health Professional's reasons for

appealing the suspension or

termination, and shall describe all

material facts which support the

Limited Privilege Health

Professional's appeal.

(3)

The Limited Privilege Health Professional may retain an attorney

or any

other counsel to prepare or to assist in the preparation of

the written

appeal.

(4)

Neither the Limited Privilege Health Professional nor his/her

counsel, if

any, shall have the unconditional right to make an

oral presentation in

support of the written appeal to the Chief

Executive Officer of the

Hospital. At his/her sole

discretion, the Chief Executive Officer may

agree to hear an

oral presentation in support of the written appeal. In

addition to,

and in his/her sole discretion, the Chief Executive Officer

may agree to hear an oral presentation in opposition to the written appeal

by a member of the Credentials Committee or that Committee's designee.

(5)

The Chief Executive Officer shall render a decision on the written

appeal within 30 days of the later of his receipt of the

written appeal or

oral arguments in support thereof, if any.

(6)

The Chief Executive Officer's decision shall be final.

 

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PART III. AMENDMENT

3.1

Amendment

This Limited Privilege Health Professionals Manual may be amended or repealed, in

whole or in part, by one of the following mechanisms:

3.1.A

A resolution of the Medical Executive Committee recommendation to and

adopted by the Advisory Board; or,

3.1.B

A resolution of the Medical Staff and confirmed by the Executive

Committee, and approved by the Advisory Board.

3.2

Responsibilities and Authority

The procedures outlined in the Bylaws and Hospital Corporate Bylaws regarding Medical

Staffresponsibility and authority to formulate, adopt, and recommend the Bylaws and

amendments thereto, and the circumstances under which the Advisory Board may resort

to its own initiative in accomplishing those functions apply as well to the formulation,

adoption, and amendment to this Limited Privilege Health Professionals Manual.

 

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PART IV. APPROVAL

Approved by Executive Committee on _______________________________________,

___________

___________________________________________________

Chairman, Medical Executive Committee

Approved by Advisory Board on ___________________________________________,

___________

___________________________________________________

Secretary