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Going green in your office - just in time for Earth Day!

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, April 16, 2009

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Anne R. Buss, CPMSM, CPCS, is a medical staff consultant based in Fayetteville, AR.

The last thing one of us in the office does before we leave for the day is make sure there is paper in the fax machine. As a result, I mentioned to a co-worker as we were leaving today how much wasted paper runs through the fax machine on a daily basis. She said that she asked most of her references to scan the questionnaire and e-mail them back.  

We received a request for a verification of medical staff affiliation a while back that ask that only the reference form be returned. “Help us turn GREEN!” it said.

A number of medical staff services departments have stopped receiving requests for verifications by fax. They will accept only emailed requests and releases, and they return the information via email.

In light of the green efforts by others, I have often wondered why our office persists in sending all that paper. In our facility we send a cover page, a letter explaining what it is we are asking for, a release for the information, a copy of the requested privileges in many instances, and the all-important questionnaire. And in most cases, that is exactly what we get back. The reference is what we want; the rest goes into a box to be shredded. At least we can feel good about the shredding being recycled.   

We have a large number of regional facilities that have affiliations verified on a Web site and all you need to access that information is the practitioner’s name spelled correctly and date of birth. You get back a very neat letter printed with the relevant information. No fax cover, letter, release, privileges, or questionnaire, and best of all, no waiting for the form to be returned. It’s green and convenient.

April 22 is Earth Day. Perhaps we should all figure out ways to save on paper verification, not to mention how to recycle toner cartridges, and soda cans and water bottles in the office break area. And, plant a tree.

Remember, those who are afraid to ask are afraid to learn.

All the best,
Anne R. Buss, CPMSM, CPCS

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