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MSP Advisor: Assessing and choosing software for your MSO

Medical Staff Leader Connection, July 23, 2008

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Dear Medical Staff Services Professional:

Numerous software programs are dedicated to managing medical staff demographic and citizenship issues. In addition, these programs offer network or Web-based solutions, automate the credentialing verification process, manage clinical privileging forms and criteria monitoring, and serve as a source for data that supports the medical staff’s performance improvement plan. 

Some MSOs have adopted paperless credentials files, but for those that haven’t, searching for software options is as easy as visiting Google. Just enter the search term, “medical staff credentialing software” and begin gathering information. Some top search results include IntelliCred, Cactus, and Morrisey.

Also, MSPs can survey their colleagues in other facilities to identify the software features that will most enhance their operations.

Prior to purchasing a data management program or replacing your current one, do a little extra research to learn about the software vendor. Most importantly, consider the vendor’s experience with similar-sized institutions and medical staffs, i.e. practitioner volume, clinical service areas, support and services, and time projections. Also take into consideration the software’s cost, features, enhancements, and ease of data conversion. Also check to see that the vendor offers annual or ongoing educational support.  

Once you have made your software selection, make sure that experienced and new MSPs receive adequate training. Consultants in the credentialing and privileging practice often find that this step has been overlooked, but credentialing and privileging data are only viable if they are entered and maintained appropriately. If the MSO sets no expectations for ongoing maintenance of the software system, the real efficiency to the medical staff and administration is lost. Attend vendor user meetings or invite a vendor to your MSO. Be sure to include in the vendor contract the expectation of upfront training and ongoing education.

When assessing the effectiveness of your current medical staff data management program (or the absence of one) compile a list of the data elements you are currently collecting and share that list with medical staff leaders and/or the MEC. Doing so will help educate leaders by providing them with information to help them make more informed decisions.

Until next we speak…SMILE

Donna K. Goestenkors, CPMSM
Consultant – Credentialing & Privileging Practice
The Greeley Company

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