Credentialing Your Staff

As a doctor, you want and need to have the most competent staff in your practice. Make sure your hiring process includes thorough credentialing.

Posted in Employment Practices on Wednesday, January 18, 2017

When adding new staff to your practice, are you going beyond the interview to credential them? 

As an doctor, you want and need to have the most competent staff available for your patients’ safety, the safety of your other staff, and the profitability and longevity of your practice.  When you are adding staff to your practice, regardless of whether it is clinical or support staff, it is important that your hiring process includes thorough and standardized credentialing.

“Thorough” means that in addition to making sure your candidate meets your needs and has the personality of the individual you are seeking, you have checked the following:

Educational and training programs

• Are the programs accredited?
• Are transcripts available to confirm completion?

Work history

• Have they had steady employment in limited locations?
• Have you confirmed their professional references?

Professional Licenses

• Are license(s) and professional certifications valid and up-to-date?
• Have license(s) been checked with the state board for suspensions, revocations, disciplinary actions or complaints?

Other

• Has a criminal background check been performed?
• If applicable, have they, for your benefit, requested a report from the National Practitioner Data Bank?
• Have they requested and presented loss runs from prior insurance carriers (if applicable)?
• Have you performed an internet search?
• Did you verify malpractice insurance for licensed staff, at limits equal to or greater than your limits?

Remember, credentialing doesn't stop once the individual has been hired. Annually, your review process should include:

• Performance evaluations and if necessary, an update of job descriptions
• Documentation for continued training such as HIPAA Compliance and other required training necessary for your office consistent with federal and state regulations
• Confirmation of completion of continuing education to maintain licenses/certifications
• Renewal of licenses/certifications
• Confirmation of continued malpractice insurance. (Consider asking to be added as a certificate holder to their policy. That way, you'll receive annual confirmation of their coverage.)

Keeping the above in mind when hiring staff and during annual reviews can help you continue to provide excellent care for your patients through your practice.