It is the position of the American Academy of Family Physicians that clinical privileges should be based on the individual physician’s documented training and/or experience, demonstrated abilities and current competence. This general policy would of course apply to privileges in all areas. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the American Medical Association hold similar positions.
It is the policy of the Joint Commission, as stated in the Hospital Accreditation Standards chapter on medical staff, that clinical privileges should be granted on the basis of each individual physician’s current licensure, relevant training or experience, current competence, and the ability to perform the privileges requested.
Many areas of care fall within the scope of more than one specialty. That medical procedures can fall within the scope of more than one specialty was recognized by the AMA when they adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That it is AMA policy that individual character, training, competence and judgment be the criteria for granting privileges in hospitals; and be it further
RESOLVED, That physicians representing several specialties can and should be permitted to perform the same procedure if they meet this criteria.
These policies ratify the position of the AAFP that the right to perform a given service or procedure is not the exclusive province of any one specialty.
