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No references? No processing. No exceptions.

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, March 10, 2005

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Dear Credentialing Colleague:

There are rare circumstances in which a physician applicant to the medical staff is unable to furnish satisfactory references, and the facility is unable to acquire references confirming the applicant's work history and clinical capabilities.

Under these circumstances, the medical staff office should simply write a business-like letter to the applicant informing him or her that the application will not be processed until references have been received. Your letter should state the specific individuals from whom references must be received, and should make it clear that in the absence of authoritative references confirming current clinical competence, an application will not be processed.

If the applicant indicates that those individuals have a significant conflict of interest or a personal dislike for him or her, the medical staff office should request the applicant's assistance in furnishing the names of other authoritative individuals in their previous practice locations who can provide candid responses to the hospital's reference requests.

Under no circumstances should the hospital feel compelled to accept references supplied by the applicant. All medical staffs have the opportunity of defining the number and sources needed to complete an effective evaluation of the applicant's qualifications and clinical competence. Absent such references there should be no processing of the application, no denial and no excuses.

Every set of medical staff bylaws contains a provision in which the burden may be placed squarely on the applicant for the production of any information or data deemed necessary for purposes of evaluating the application. This bylaws provision is one of the most effective tools available to the medical staff, office and credentials committee as they attempt to deal with complex or unusual applications.

That's it for today.

All the best,

Hugh Greeley

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