What is an OPPE?

An Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) is a required, continuous, data-driven process established by The Joint Commission for accredited hospitals and healthcare organizations. It monitors and evaluates the competency, professional performance, and practice trends of privileged practitioners—including physicians, advanced practice providers, and others—to ensure high-quality, safe patient care.

OPPE uses qualitative and quantitative data to identify performance issues early, support performance improvement, and inform decisions on maintaining, limiting, or revoking clinical privileges (often integrated with recredentialing every 12 months or more frequently). It applies to all granted privileges and helps detect trends that could affect care quality.

While OPPE is primarily an ongoing monitoring and educational tool, it may trigger further review (such as Focused Professional Practice Evaluation or FPPE) or disciplinary action depending on findings and the organization's bylaws. It is not inherently disciplinary but can serve as a foundation for such steps if performance concerns arise.

Its primary purpose is to identify practice trends that may affect the quality and safety of patient care, enabling early detection of potential issues and supporting informed decisions on maintaining, revising, or revoking privileges.

Unlike Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE), which is a time-limited review for new privileges or specific concerns, OPPE applies to all privileged providers and integrates into credentialing and quality improvement efforts. If trends raise concerns, it may trigger an FPPE for deeper investigation.   

However, there is a major difference between the OPPE ttype that applies to all privileged providers and an OPPE that is in the grey area between an innocuous/standard OPPE and an FPPE.  These remedial OPPE's often lead to increasing discipline and the failure to completely succeed during the remedial OPPE process can be used against a physician in the future.  In addition, even a success in the OPPE process can be used against a doctor when a later complaint is filled! 

For these reasons, if you are being placed on a remedial OPPE you need to consult with an attorney.  Call (925) 283-1863 to set up an initial consultation with Daniel Horowitz.