Bylaws And Rules Of Advanced Practice Professional Medical Assistant

PREAMBLE

Recognizing that the Medical Staff is responsible for the quality of care delivered by its members and accountable to the Governing Body for all aspects of that care, the Medical Staff practicing at the Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System located in Miami, Florida (hereinafter sometimes referred to as MVAHS, Facility, or Organization) hereby organizes itself for self-governance in conformity with the laws, regulations, and policies governing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the Bylaws and Rules hereinafter stated. These Bylaws and Rules are consistent with all laws and regulations governing VHA, and they do not create any rights or liabilities not otherwise provided for in laws

“Advanced Practice Professionals” means those health care professionals who are not physicians and dentists and who will function within a scope of practice but may practice independently on defined clinical privileges as defined in these bylaws. These professionals include physician assistants (PAs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs), and clinical pharmacist specialists/clinical pharmacist practitioners (CPS/CPPs). Advanced Practice Professionals may have prescriptive authority as allowed by federal regulation, and/or state of licensure statutes and regulations, under the supervision of a credentialed and privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner when required. Unless privileged to do so, Advanced Practice Professionals do not have admitting authority. Advanced Practice Professionals may initiate prescriptions for non-formulary drugs or prescribe controlled substances in accordance with state of licensure statutes and regulations. Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners and other health care professionals may be granted defined clinical privileges when allowed by law and the

“Automatic Suspension of Privileges” means suspensions that are automatically (administratively) enacted whenever the defined indication occurs, which warrants a suspension of privileges, and does not require discussion, investigation of clinical care concerns, or result from concern of substandard care, professional misconduct, or professional incompetence. Examples include exceeding the allowed medical record delinquency rate when such delinquency does not impact patient care or failure to maintain qualifications for appointment, extended sick leave, or other extended leave. Privileges are automatically suspended until the cause of the suspension has been addressed such as the records are completed, or the delinquency rate falls to an acceptable level, or provider returns to duty. Reactivation must be endorsed by the Medical Executive Board and discussion of reactivation should include consideration of a Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) depending upon length of time away from practice and reason for the automatic