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Q&A: What tips can you provide for dealing with physicians who don’t take the credentialing process seriously?

Credentialing & Verification Update, April 11, 2007

Q&A: What tips can you provide for dealing with physicians who don't take the credentialing process seriously?

A: This is a common question among medical staff professionals (MSPs), who often deal with physicians who won't return paperwork on time, are difficult or impossible to reach, or simply do not take the credentialing process seriously, as stated in this reader question.

Below, we outline three tips for dealing with individuals who hamper the credentialing and privileging processes.

Tip 1: Dealing with non-responsive or late physicians: Some MSPs have had success increasing responsiveness from practitioners by personally walking into their offices and waiting as the practitioner fills out the paperwork. While this may not be a tactic needed frequently, those who have tried it report that the individual was more responsive the next time around.

Tip 2: Applying peer pressure to get results: Try publishing a list of the physicians who have failed to respond to requests for information. List the names of responders and non-responders side by side, with a "thank you" to those who have already completed the requested paperwork.

Tip 3: Getting support from above: When dealing with non-compliant physicians, often the cooperation of the department chair or credentials committee chair can be effective. They know firsthand the volume of work associated with the appointment and reappointment processes. Often, they are willing to intervene when it appears that all other avenues of getting the physician to cooperate have failed.

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