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Questions to ask an applicant in a clinical interview

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, June 16, 2004

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Dear credentialing colleagues:

A hospital's credentials committee undertakes the most searching and systematic of all reviews when it comes to medical staff applicants. Credentials committee members examine any potential problems that letters of reference, adverse actions, or peer review might reveal.

A hospital's credentials committee may, when necessary, want to meet informally with a medical staff applicant to conduct a clinical interview. This interview provides an opportunity to discuss the practitioner's application, qualifications, and the scope of the clinical privileges he or she requested.

The following are some suggested questions for credentials committee members to ask during a clinical interview:

1. Ask the applicant to explain any gaps in his or her education, training, or practice experience, and for the names of individuals who could be contacted to confirm the applicant's explanation. For instance, ask for the name of the treating physician, if the applicant says illness is the reason for a gap in his or her work history.

2. Ask the applicant to explain frequent moves, for instance, why he or she left training programs, group practices, or hospitals staffs. Ask for the names of individuals who you can contact to confirm the applicant's explanation.

3. If the applicant has not been recruited to the area by the hospital, ask what initially attracted the applicant to the geographic area and to your hospital in particular.

4. Ask how the applicant plans to use the hospital, and ask how the hospital fits into his or her overall hospital practice.

5. Follow up on, and press the applicant for, answers to any questions that arise out of information in the application or any confidential evaluations or reference letters. Do not volunteer to the applicant the names of those who gave negative references.

6. If the applicant is not board-certified, ask whether he or she has applied to take the exam, or has taken the exam and failed.

Remember, it is the job of the credentials committee  to weigh each element of an applicant's file.  It is always better to be careful in the review than sorry after appointment.

That's it for today.

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

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