Credentialing Resource Center Digest is taking time off in observance of the holidays, so there will be no Digest the week of December 28. The CRC team hopes you enjoy the holidays, and we'll see you on January 4 when we resume our normal publication schedule!

The Credentialing Resource Center team is currently seeking experts to review the 2020 MSP Salary Survey Report. We’re looking for MSPs, physician leaders, healthcare practitioners, quality professionals, and others with relevant experience who are willing to comment on the findings of the report and how the data reflects what they’re seeing in the field. The CRC team will credit all quotes published in the report and feature you in the report’s expert contributors section. Don’t miss this chance to get involved and give back to your peers in the profession! Email editor Karla Accorto at kaccorto@hcpro.com if you’re interested or to learn more!

As part of our initiative to highlight the efforts of MSPs everywhere, the Credentialing Resource Center Team is recognizing stellar MSPs in the community by featuring them in Credentialing Resource Center Digest. In our latest feature, we would like to recognize Jennifer Williams, CPCS. Williams is the credentialing coordinator at Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) in Fairbanks, Alaska and has 10 years of experience in medical staff services.

Two major health systems are facing backlash over recent decisions regarding which employees should receive the COVID-19 vaccine first.

Sometimes the most difficult thing to accomplish at work is work. With telephone calls, meetings, visitors, and faxes, not to mention the deluge of mail, email, and internal memos, it can be almost impossible to get anything done. To accomplish more, you must evaluate your time management and analyze ways to improve. Here are some tips to help you with that task.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Court”) affirmed a Texas District Court’s decision granting summary judgment, finding that the plaintiff waived his right to arbitration after engaging in substantial litigation spanning 16 months.

Establishing a new credentials verification organization (CVO) can be a daunting task. It is a learning experience from start to finish, and the opportunities never end. With ongoing changes in the healthcare industry, it is impor­tant to stay on top of the latest laws and regulations, proven-effective practices, and technol­ogy. The way we do our work today will look very different 10 years from now.

On December 16, the EEOC added a section on how the COVID-19 vaccination interacts with the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) to its publication titled “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.”

The Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 (HCQIA) has no provision or requirement for an appellate review mechanism. However, if your hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), standard MS.10.01.01, EP 5 states, “With the governing body, provides a mechanism to appeal adverse decisions as provided in the medical staff bylaws.” Since TJC accredits approximately 88% of U.S. hospitals, it’s worth our time to outline an appeal process that makes use of best practices.