What is OPPE and what is its ongoing purpose in credentialing?

• A. Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation; ongoing monitoring of all practitioners to ensure ongoing competence.
• B. Post-licensure Review; a one-time check of credentialing after licensure.
• C. Internal Quality Improvement Review; focuses on facility processes rather than individual practitioners.
• D. Annual Clinical Certification Review; verifies board certification status annually.

Answer: (A)

OPPE stands for Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation. It is the systematic, continuous monitoring of a practitioner’s actual performance after credentials are granted, using data from everyday clinical practice to ensure ongoing competence. The goal is to detect any performance concerns early and address them through remediation or coaching, while also informing reappointment and privileging decisions to confirm that a practitioner still meets the required standards.

This ongoing focus differentiates OPPE from a one-time check, such as a post-licensure review, which would not capture ongoing performance. It also isn’t about evaluating facility processes, which is the realm of internal quality improvement work, nor is it simply about confirming board certification status each year, which pertains to credentialing of credentials rather than the practitioner’s continuing performance.