CLINICAL HYPERBARIC MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

1. Qualifications and Training (entry level) [1]
1. Must be M.D. or D.O. graduate holding a valid diploma from an Accredited Medical School. (UHMS Accreditation HBOPC 4.1)
2. Must be Board Certified or Board Eligible in a recognized medical or surgical specialty. (HBOPC 4.1.1)
3. Must have successfully completed at least a 40-credit hour, UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Medicine Introductory Course. (Fellowship-trained hyperbaric medicine physicians meet this requirement if they hold a certificate of training from an organized, academically based clinical program with a continuous training period of more than 11 months.) (HBOPC 4.1.2)
2. Practice Guidelines (entry level) [1]
1. Must first meet the Qualifications and Training as stated above.
2. Must maintain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state where the physician delivers hyperbaric medicine therapy. (Certain government agencies may be exempt.) (HBOPC 4.1.3)
3. Must be specifically privileged to practice Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine in the sponsoring medical institution(s) under the process delineated by the institution's privileging or credentials committee. (HBOPC 4.1.4)
4. Should be allowed to work unsupervised by his/her medical director only after a period of preceptorship where the physician has demonstrated a consistent competence in standard clinical hyperbaric medicine treatments, procedures, and safety. (HBOPC 4.1.5)
5. Board certification in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine or possessing a UHMS Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) (HBOPC 4.1.6)

PHYSICIAN MEDICAL DIRECTOR

The following statements are based on the UHMS Clinical Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Manual [1]:

1. Must first meet the entry-level qualifications, training, and practice guidelines as delineated in this document for Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine Physician. (HBOPC 4.2)
2. Should be a physician in good standing in hyperbaric medicine, and support UHMS clinical indications and protocols through a high standard of practice. (HBOPC 4.2.2)
3. Should have demonstrated leadership, management, teaching, and administrative abilities. (HBOPC 4.2.3)
4. Should have a working understanding of the codes and regulations that govern the operation of a hyperbaric medicine facility. (HBOPC 4.2.4)
5. Should have a working understanding of the operation and safety associated with the classes of hyperbaric chamber(s) used in the facility. 
6. Should support the pursuit of scholarly activities and debate in the field of hyperbaric medicine. (HBOPC 4.2.5)
7. For the initial appointment, hyperbaric medicine physicians must complete a minimum of either 12 hours of hyperbaric medicine specific category 1 CME each year or a total of 24 hours of CME within the preceding 2‐year period. If local requirements or the requirements of certification agencies exceed these standards, the CME requirements of the physician’s certification and privileging agencies should be followed. (HBOPC 4.3)

REAPPOINTMENT

The following statements are based on the UHMS Clinical Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Manual [1]:

1. Reappointment as a hyperbaric medicine consultant will be based on unbiased objective results of care according to the institution’s existing quality assurance mechanisms. 
2. Applicants for reappointment must be able to demonstrate that they have maintained competence by showing evidence that they have provided inpatient and/or outpatient hyperbaric consultative and case management services for the minimum number of patients, as established by that institution.
3. For reappointment, hyperbaric medicine physicians must complete a minimum of either 12 hours of hyperbaric medicine specific category 1 CME each year or a total of 24 hours of CME within the preceding 2‐year period. If local requirements or the requirements of certification agencies exceed these standards, the CME requirements of the physician’s certification and privileging agencies should be followed.

REVIEW / REVISION OF POLICY

This policy shall be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least every year.

Medical Director Date

Reviewed Date:

Revised Date: