Categories of medical staff

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*Category descriptions may differ slightly for each health authority

Temporary

scientific & research

locum tenens

honorary

nurse practitioner

midwivery

dental

consulting

associate

ACTIVE

Provisional

Categories of medical staff*

Honorary Staff

• Include medical staff members with outstanding reputations or prominent individuals that the Board of Directors wishes to honour who are not active in facilities and programs operated by a health authority.
• May not admit or treat patients.
• Do not have assigned duties or responsibilities and do not have voting rights at departmental or medical staff meetings.
• Are not subject to regular review.

Temporary Staff

• Appointed for a specified period not to exceed 12 months for the purpose of filing a temporary service need.
• Renewal of privileges may be considered upon review.
• Are expected to attend educational activities.
• Unless specifically exempted, are required to fulfill organizational/service responsibilities including on-call responsibilities.
• Not eligible for appointment to medical staff committees and not eligible to vote at medical staff or departmental meetings.

Locum Tenens Staff

• Appointed for a specified period not to exceed 12 months for the purpose of replacing a member of Active, Provisional, or Consulting staff members during an absence.
• Renewal of privileges may be considered upon review.
• Privileges to be commensurate with training and experience but cannot exceed that of the staff member replaced.
• Not eligible for appointment to medical staff committees or eligible to vote at medical staff or departmental meetings.
• Unless specifically exempted, are required to fulfill organizational/service responsibilities, including on-call responsibilities.

Consulting Staff

• Include physicians, dentists, midwives and nurse practitioners with special training or other qualifications who are recommended by HAMAC to be of special advantage to facilities and programs operated by a health authority.
• May not admit patients but may write orders and treat patients in a consulting capacity.
• Unless specifically exempted, may be required to fulfill organizational/service responsibilities, including on-call responsiblilites.
• Not required to attend departmental meetings
• Not eligible for appointment to medical staff committees or vot at medical staff or departmental meetings.

Categories of Medical Staff

All members of a medical staff must be appointed by the Board of Directors to one of the categories listed.

Midwifery Staff

• Consist of qualified midwives registered with the College of Midwives of BC.
• May be classified as Active, Provisional, Associate, Consulting, Temporary, Locum Tenens, Scientific & Research, and Honorary.
• Active, Provisional or Locum midwifery staff may admit patients and write orders as appropriate.
• Unless specifically exempted, are required to fulfill organizational/service responsibilities, including on-call responsibilities.

Associate Medical Staff

• May utilize diagnostic facilities, assist in operating rooms and/or undertake other duties specifically assigned, but must not perform surgical or investigational procedures for which additional privileges are required.
• May not normally admit patients or write orders, unless specifically identified as part of assigned duties.
• Not eligible to hold office or vote at medical staff or departmental meetings but encouraged to participate in administrative and educational activities.

Active Medical Staff

• Members of Active staff must complete the required period as a Provisional staff member unless exempted by the Board of Directors.
• May admit, attend, investigate, diagnose, and treat patients within limits of member's privileges.
• Are eligible to hold office and vote a medical staff and departmental meetings.
• Required to participate in administrative and educational activities and to attend at least 70% of primary departmental/divisional meetings.

Nurse Practitioner Staff

• Consist of qualified nurse practitioners who are registered with the College of Registered Nurses of BC.
• Classified as Active, Provisional, Associate, Consulting, Temporary, Locum Tenens, and Honorary.
• Active, Provisional or Locum nurse practitioners may admit, discharge and write orders as appropriate.
• Are assigned to a Regional Department of Nurse Practitioners of which a Nurse Practitioner (or delegate) is the Department Head.
• Unless specifically exempted, are required to fulfill organization/service responsibilities, including on-call responsibilities.

Scientific & Research Staff

• Consists of qualified researchers or educators recognized of their training, experience and ability.
• Carry out duties assigned to them including teaching and research.
• Must not admit patients, write orders, vote, or be officers of the medical staff.
• Shall serve on committees to which they have been appointed.

Dental Staff

• Consist of qualified dentists who are members of the College of Dental Surgeons of BC and:
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons with admitting and discharging privileges.
• Dentists who do not have admitting or discharging privileges.
• Unless specifically exempted, may be required to fulfill organizational/service responsibilities, including on-call responsibilities.
• May be classified as Active, Provisional, Associate, Consulting, Locum Tenens, Scientific & Research, and Honorary.

Provisional Medical Staff

• Initial appointment of all applicants applying to the Active staff category is to the Provisional staff category.
• May admit, attend, investigate, diagnose, and treat patients within limits of member's privileges.
• Must satisfactorily complete a prescribed orientation program.
• May be considered for appointment to Active staff after completion of six months provisional staff membership.
• Not eligible to hold office or vote at medical staff and departmental meetings.
• Continuous membership in Provisional category cannot exceed two years.