A physician or other licensed health care professional who is permitted to care for patients independently in the hospital. Each medical staff member must be formally appointed to the medical staff by the governing body, and be authorized by that body to treat patients, independently, in the hospital. This appointment to the medical staff must be based on the individual being licensed and meeting the hospital’s own requirements. Members are granted specific privileges by the governing body, delineating what they are permitted to do within the hospital, and are subject to the medical staff bylaws and rules and regulations and to review under the hospital’s quality management program. In addition, all members must be reappointed periodically, and their privileges reaffirmed.