In order to maintain accreditation, ASCs are required to keep up-to-date databases and files on each physician's credentials. Depending on the size of an ASC, maintaining updated credentials can be difficult. Two industry experts explain three things ASCs can do to successfully maintain medical staff credentials in a timely and efficient manner.
1. Organize expiration dates on a spreadsheet. Elaine Thomas, administrator at St. Francis Mooresville (Ind.) Surgery Center, a center accredited by Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, says the switch from being St. Francis Hospital's hospital outpatient department to being a freestanding ASC required extensive organization, starting with re-developing each physicians' files, which was done with the hospital's medical staff's oversight of verifications. Following this, she decided to create a spreadsheet of expiration dates of all related licensing and credentialing information for each physician.
"Right now, I'm currently in the process of putting together this spreadsheet with expiration dates for licenses, such as DEA and CSRs, which are both licenses to dispense medication," she says. "Virtually anything with an expiration date goes on this spreadsheet, including expiration dates for TB tests and liability insurance."
2. Implement a system database. Healthcare information technology has become sophisticated to the point that ASCs can input expiration dates and receive alerts when a date is approaching. Ms. Thomas says her ASC's system database was originally used for scheduling procedures at the center. This additional capability allows the surgery center to keep track of physician credentials. "For example, I can run a monthly report to see who's ready to expire on credentials," she says."
3. Consult external databases. Various organizations, such as the American Osteopathic Association, have created databases that can serve as primary sources for verification of physician credentials. Such large databases are usually accepted by accrediting organizations. Jack Egnatinsky, MD, medical director at the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and active surveyor, says ASCs should also frequently consult the National Practitioner Data Bank.
"[ASCs frequently] fail to check the National Practitioner Data Bank, which they should check on for credentials of all practitioners," he says. "[ASCs] also frequently forget to check with various government agencies to see if there are federal sanctions. They also have to remember reappointment is applied to any allied health providers, such as physician's assistants or nurses, that have granted privileges to work in their organization but are not employed by them."
Thank you to Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, which accredited St. Francis Mooresville Surgery Center, for arranging this article.
Learn more about HFAP.
1. Organize expiration dates on a spreadsheet. Elaine Thomas, administrator at St. Francis Mooresville (Ind.) Surgery Center, a center accredited by Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, says the switch from being St. Francis Hospital's hospital outpatient department to being a freestanding ASC required extensive organization, starting with re-developing each physicians' files, which was done with the hospital's medical staff's oversight of verifications. Following this, she decided to create a spreadsheet of expiration dates of all related licensing and credentialing information for each physician.
"Right now, I'm currently in the process of putting together this spreadsheet with expiration dates for licenses, such as DEA and CSRs, which are both licenses to dispense medication," she says. "Virtually anything with an expiration date goes on this spreadsheet, including expiration dates for TB tests and liability insurance."
2. Implement a system database. Healthcare information technology has become sophisticated to the point that ASCs can input expiration dates and receive alerts when a date is approaching. Ms. Thomas says her ASC's system database was originally used for scheduling procedures at the center. This additional capability allows the surgery center to keep track of physician credentials. "For example, I can run a monthly report to see who's ready to expire on credentials," she says."
3. Consult external databases. Various organizations, such as the American Osteopathic Association, have created databases that can serve as primary sources for verification of physician credentials. Such large databases are usually accepted by accrediting organizations. Jack Egnatinsky, MD, medical director at the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and active surveyor, says ASCs should also frequently consult the National Practitioner Data Bank.
"[ASCs frequently] fail to check the National Practitioner Data Bank, which they should check on for credentials of all practitioners," he says. "[ASCs] also frequently forget to check with various government agencies to see if there are federal sanctions. They also have to remember reappointment is applied to any allied health providers, such as physician's assistants or nurses, that have granted privileges to work in their organization but are not employed by them."
Thank you to Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, which accredited St. Francis Mooresville Surgery Center, for arranging this article.
Learn more about HFAP.