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Develop a handout that explains credentialing basics

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, March 20, 2003

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Dear Credentialing Colleague:

How often have you been approached by a physician who asks why credentialing takes so long or why the hospital has the right to "pry" into his or her personal life?

Such questions arise at initial appointment, when new applicants are anxious to get on the medical staff, and at reappointment, when existing medical staff members wonder why they must once again complete a pile of paperwork.

Your institution may be able to eliminate some of the consternation and confusion generated by the credentialing process if you develop a short handout for each physician applying or reapplying to the medical staff. This handout could quite easily provide the rationale behind credentialing, explain how the procedure basically works, and give a list of "do's and don'ts" physicians may follow to ensure their applications/reapplications will be processed in the least amount of time.

I've found that simply presenting physicians with a copy of the medical staff bylaws has little impact. Bylaws are generally quite long, complicated, and lack an explanation of the credentialing process.

Applicants or reapplicants could review a handout as described above. Perhaps it would help them realize that legibility really does matter, that they must complete all sections of the application, and that the medical staff office is interested in quickly moving their applications to the credentials committee. They may realize that the credentialing process is reasonable and designed to ensure that patients see only physicians whose qualifications and backgrounds the hospital has verified.

That's all for this week.

All the best,

Hugh Greeley<
www.greeley.com/seminars/.

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