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Ask prospective applicants to meet with the VPMA

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, October 3, 2003

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Dear Credentialing Colleague:

Traditionally, hospitals have provided medical staff applicants with privilege request forms and permitted them to "fire away." More recently, however, many hospitals and medical staffs have adopted a system that presents the applicant with specific privileging criteria they must meet before their request may be processed. This approach is a marked improvement over the former method, as the old approach often resulted in motions to withdraw requests, endless chases after clarifying information, and in some instances, denials.

Moving toward an even more proactive and user-friendly system, still other hospitals make arrangements for prospective applicants to meet with the vice president of medical affairs (VPMA) and agree on which privileges they will request. During these discussions, the VPMA asks questions about an applicant's interests and background, provides information about the hospital's practices and privileging criteria, and actually assists in tailoring the applicant's request to facilitate the process. By meeting with the VPMA, the hospital can avoid miscommunications with the applicant, as well as instances in which the credentials committee identifies a lack of education, training, or experience for the privileges requested.

More importantly, these meetings allow VPMAs to develop relationships with applicants that will prove helpful as they begin to practice. In turn, applicants' appreciation of the hospital and medical staff is enhanced.

This step may well represent yet another privileging practice that starts out as uncommon but slowly becomes the norm because it is logical, professional, and useful. If you wish to add this step to your current process, please note that you do not have to make any bylaws changes, nor do you have to establish a special policy to authorize it.

That's all for this week.

All the best,

Hugh Greeley

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