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Mentoring program for MSPs

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, June 5, 2008

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Anne Roberts, CPMSM, CPCS, is the director of medical affairs at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where she oversees the medical administration, graduate medical education, and medical staff services departments.

Dear credentialing colleague:

When I first started as an MSP, I remember struggling to learn as much as I could about the field without a whole lot of guidance. I worked in a small community hospital where there was not a lot of direction, or at least not a lot going in the right direction! As MSPs, we learn from our experiences, whether through trial and error or absorbing knowledge from those who have been in the field for quite some time.

The credentialing and privileging field is continuously evolving. Regulatory standards are becoming more and more regimented and the scope of an MSP has continued to expand over the years. Some MSPs are branching out into graduate medical education, physician relations, and medical records.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with several seasoned MSPs through my consulting and my affiliation with the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS). It was through these seasoned MSPs, whom I consider my mentors, that I have been able to excel and stay abreast of the continuously evolving field. My desire to learn and my drive to ensure that my facility is on top of the most recent innovations for our field has given me the ability to now give back to my peers.

Looking back at where I started and learning from past experience is one of the main reasons that I helped NAMSS implement the mentoring program. Through this program, individuals who are either new to the field (as I was) or who are moving into a new role can be paired with a seasoned and experienced mentor. That mentor can help them gain an understanding of the MSP’s role, and can be a great resource to answer questions. In addition to coordinating the mentor program, I also participate as a mentor. Participation as a mentor has given me the pleasure of giving back by helping those who are in the same situation that I was in many years ago by providing mentoring, guidance, and educational resources to help them excel in their career. Many MSPs have the motivation to share their professional knowledge and the mentoring program gives them that opportunity. So if you are new to the field, seek out your colleagues and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Someday you may be the one providing the answers to a newcomer!

The mission of the NAMSS mentoring program is to advance the delivery of quality healthcare by providing medical services professionals a mechanism for support and education in their endeavors to ensure that safe, quality patient care is being provided by qualified and competent providers. For more information about the NAMSS program, please visit the NAMSS Web site at www.namss.org
       
“Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.” – Winston Churchill

Remember, clear, effective communication is the key to success!

That’s all for this week.

All the best,

Anne Roberts, CPMSM, CPCS

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