Anne Roberts, CPMSM, CPCS, is the director of medical affairs at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, where she oversees the medical administration, graduate medical education, and medical staff services departments.

Dear credentialing colleague:

In January 2008, The Joint Commission implemented the standard for focused professional practice evaluations (FPPE). At that time, hospitals struggled to implement FPPE for all initial applicants granted privileges. The first steps toward implementation were determining the appropriate level of FPPE, how the FPPE would be conducted, and who would monitor the FPPE process.

Are you planning to attend the NAMSS conference on October 13-15 and need to purchase a new or improved online software system with core privilege forms built in? If so, register in advance for our live luncheon demonstration of Core Privilege Plus Software. Email Executive Editor Maureen Coler at mcoler@hcpro.com or call 781-639-1872 x3741 for more information.

CertiFACTS On-Line is your direct link to the most current board certification data for all 24 ABMS Member Boards, updated daily by ABMS. Powered by ABMS Direct Connect, it’s one of a select few programs to be designated by ABMS as an Official Display Agent and offer saved search functionality. Data from the database is recognized by The Joint Commission, NCQA, and URAC as satisfying primary source requirements for board certification verification of physicians. For more information please go to www.certifacts.org or call 800-733-2267.

Only one medical staff standard made it onto The Joint Commission’s Standards and NPSGs with Highest Non-Compliance Rates list for 2007. MS.4.00 (which will become MS.06.01.01 on January 1, 2008 under the Standards Improvement Initiative) had a 10% non-compliance rate at critical access hospitals, according to the September 2008 issue of This Month, published by The Joint Commission.