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Authentication - Licensed Practitioner Authority

Is it acceptable for one licensed practitioner to authenticate on behalf of another licensed practitioner (LP)?  

Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.

Organizations would need to develop policies and procedures, consistent with law and regulation, which define the circumstance and mechanisms under which one LP could authenticate for another LP.  Consistent with Joint Commission Standards and CMS Conditions of Participation (CoP)/Conditions for Coverage(CfC), it would be acceptable for an organization to develop and implement a policy allowing verbal orders to be authenticated by an LP responsible for the care of that patient, when the ordering LP is not available. This does not apply to transcribed progress notes as they can only be authenticated by the LP who dictated the progress note.
 




 
Manual: Hospital and Hospital Clinics
Chapter: Record of Care Treatment and Services RC
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: November 16, 2022 Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: April 11, 2016 This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on November 16, 2022 with update notes of: Review only, FAQ is current Types of changes and an explanation of change type: Editorial changes only: Format changes only. No changes to content. | Review only, FAQ is current: Periodic review completed, no changes to content. | Reflects new or updated requirements: Changes represent new or revised requirements.
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