Sally J. Pelletier, CPMSM, CPCS, is a consultant with The Greeley Company, a division of HCPro, Inc., specializing in the areas of credentialing and privileging.

Dear credentialing colleague:

Frequently hospitals utilize moonlighters or “house staff” to provide coverage for the emergency department or the hospital (“house”) on nights and weekends. Residents, fellows, or other staff members may serve as moonlighters depending on hospital policy and state licensing laws. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defines resident and fellow moonlighters as follows: “Patient care activities external to the educational program that residents/fellows engage in at sites used by the educational program (internal moonlighting) and other healthcare sites.”

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Kelli L. Fussell, CPMSM, CPCS, manager of medical staff services at Salem Hospital in Salem, OR, says that working with locum tenens agencies is beneficial for patients and the community, as long as there are clear lines of communication and expectations set forth up front between the hospital and agency.

The following is an acceptable question that applicants may be required to answer: “Do you have a physical, mental, or emotional condition or substance abuse problem that could affect your ability to exercise the clinical privileges requested or that would require an accommodation for you to exercise those privileges safely and competently?”