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Three reasons for credentialing

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, May 5, 2004

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Dear credentialing colleagues:

The primary purpose of credentialing is patient safety. Industry expert Lee Dockerty, MD, former executive vice president of the American Board of Medical Specialties, stated that the "patient is the primary reason we engage in this activity."

For credentials committees, the first step to ensuring effective credentialing is complete information concerning all candidates for appointment and reappointment. Medical staff leaders must then carefully scrutinize that information.

- Action item: Ensure that your credentials process results in fully verified information regarding all aspects of a practitioner's prior experience.

The second purpose of credentialing is to facilitate practice by physicians and others in the hospital or healthcare system. Under federal and state laws and regulations, no practitioner may practice within a hospital without clinical privileges. The job of the credentials committee and medical executive committee is to see to it that good physicians face as few barriers to hospital practice as possible.

- Action item: Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, trim the time between application and appointment, establish excellent rules, and create transparency in your credentialing process.

The third reason for credentialing is institutional protection, including protection from legitimate corporate negligence challenges, accreditation standards violations, community embarrassment, and Office of Inspector General fines or sanctions.

- Action item: Dot all "I's" and cross all "T's." Never assume any information is unimportant. Follow up on all red flags, and fully document all activities.

That's it for this week.

All the best,
Hugh Greeley
http://www.greeley.com/seminars/

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