If you register for the 2017 CRC Symposium by March 19, you’ll automatically receive a free copy of our best-selling book, Verify and Comply: Credentialing and Medical Staff Standards Crosswalk, Sixth Edition. That’s a $160 value!

The traditional arrangement when a physician applies for clinical privileges at a health system is that the medical staff services department collects information from multiple sources to verify the physician’s current competence specifically related to the privileges requested.

Since only 12% of U.S. adults are considered to be highly proficient in health literacy—the ability to find, understand, and use health information—physicians should not assume patients understand what they’re being told.

"People don't realize the importance of a mentor. Somebody who really believes in you or somebody who is committed to you ... these are critical people who really model your life."

Most hospitals have one or more exclusive contracts with members of the medical staff to ensure round-the-clock coverage for a particular service. Physicians who find themselves ineligible to hold certain privileges as a result of an exclusive arrangement may sue the hospital. Therefore, medical staff bylaws must address what hearing rights, if any, the hospital offers members who are affected by the initiation or ongoing existence of an exclusive contract.

When an employed physician leaves a hospital, a credentialing best practice is that the “next” hospital asks both the medical staff services department (MSSD) and the HR department for a reference. Why? Unfortunately, there are occasions when a hospital will terminate the employment of a physician and the MSSD knows nothing about it. It is important to remember that one day you might be the one requesting a professional reference from another organization and expecting factual information on a physician so that you can make an informed recommendation about privileges.

Getting room service every night when you’re in Austin for the 2017 CRC Symposium is no fun. Take time to venture out and enjoy some local restaurants. Austin is a great dining city so check out this list of places just minutes away from the Hyatt Regency to grab a bite to eat.

The term “benchmark” originates from the chiseled horizontal marks surveyors made in stone structures, into which an angle-iron was placed to form a “bench” for a leveling rod for accurate future use. The meaning came from a long tract of level, elevated land called a bench. More recently, this term has been transformed to focus on quality.

Find out what’s happening in the world of federal healthcare regulations by reviewing some recent headlines from across the country.