Staff Privileges

The purpose of medical staff privileging is to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care in the hospital.

1. Base privilege decisions on:
   1. the candidate’s training, experience, demonstrated competence;
   2. the availability of facilities;
   3. the overall medical needs of the community, the hospital, and especially patients.
   1. numbers of patients the candidate has admitted to the facility;
   2. economic or insurance status of patients admitted by the candidate;
   3. personal friendships, antagonisms, jurisdictional disputes, or fear of competition.
   AMA Principles of Medical Ethics: IV, VI, VII

   Related Opinions

   Opinion 9.5.1

   Organized Medical Staff

   The organized medical staff performs essential hospital functions even though it may often consist primarily of independent practicing physicians who are not hospital employees. The core responsibilities of the organized medical staff are the promotion of patient safety and the quality of care.

   Opinion 9.5.3

   Accreditation

   Physicians who engage in activities that involve the accreditation, approval, or certification of institutions, facilities, and programs that provide patient care or medical education or certify the attainment of specialized professional competence have the ethical responsibility to develop and apply standards that are relevant, fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory, and patient-centered.

   Opinion 9.5.4

   Civil Rights & Medical Professionals

   Opportunities must not be denied to any physician or medical trainee because of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic affiliation, national origin, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, family status, or disability or for any other reason unrelated to character, competence, ethics, professional status, or professional activities.

   Opinion 9.5.5

   Gender Discrimination in Medicine

   Inequality of professional status in medicine among individuals based on gender can compromise patient care, undermine trust, and damage the working environment. Physician leaders in medical schools and medical institutions should advocate for increased leadership in medicine among individuals of underrepresented genders and equitable compensation for all physicians.

   Opinion 11.2.1

   Professionalism in Health Care Systems

   Physicians should hold leaders accountable to meeting conditions for professionalism in health care systems. This includes advocating for changes in health care payment and delivery models to promote access to high quality care for all patients, recognizing that over-reliance on financial incentives may undermine physician professionalism.