Surgery by non-surgeons: podiatric surgery in Connecticut

In order to determine the standards for credentialing, privilege delineation, and quality assurance of podiatric surgery in Connecticut, a questionnaire was mailed to all acute care hospitals, with a 100% institutional response. Of 38 hospitals, 25 currently have granted clinical privileges to podiatrists. Full podiatric surgical programs exist in 12 hospitals; multitiered privileges in seven hospitals differentiate podiatrists with and without postgraduate surgical residency training. Credentialing, privilege delineation, and quality assurance generally is conducted through the chief of surgery or chief of orthopedics, with participation of staff podiatrists. Based on the Connecticut experience, recommendations are made regarding establishment of new podiatric surgical programs.