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Q&A: How do I verify a practitioner’s military credentials?

Credentialing & Verification Update, January 31, 2007

Many factors can complicate efforts to verify the credentials of a practitioner who trained or served in the military. Examples of common stumbling blocks include the following:

• There is currently no central source to contact for information
• Due to military restructuring, many military bases have closed
• Record keeping practices are different in the military than in civilian hospitals
• Training officers at facilities often change due to retirement or transfer to another facility

The first step in verifying military credentials is to contact the commanding officer of the base on which the individual served. Military bases usually retain credentials files for five to 10 years after a practitioner leaves the facility, so even if office personnel have changed since the individual left the base, the record still might be available. If a military base is closed, contact the surgeon general of that particular military branch.

If, after taking the above steps, your hospital is still unable to locate an individual's credentials file, contact the Military Records Facility at the address listed below to obtain his or her general personnel record. General personnel records contain records of service assignments, but usually do not contain information regarding clinical skills.

Military Records Facility

Editor's note: Questions and topic suggestions can be e-mailed to Credentialing & Verification Update at mcoler@hcpro.com.

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