Medical Credentialing Via Primary Source Verification: 4 Major Data Verification Sources!

Medical credentialing is a precise, mandated process used to evaluate the qualifications and practice history of physicians, nurse practitioners and other health professionals. It is a crucial first step in recruiting and appointing qualified health care professionals to a facility.

Errors made in medical credentialing can result in harmful quality issues, damaged reputations and most importantly a life threatening risk to patients. Medical malpractice cases are not rare at all. According to a famous malpractice news blog (MedicalLicenseVerification.com), they mention almost 50 cases daily from around the world. MLV stats also declared that the doctors, physicians, nurses and other medical staff are being alleged to different malpractice cases and also in sexual harassment lawsuits.

Reading through another document on the RiskDiscovered – A background checks company of Pakistan, it was shocking to know about a nurse who was working for many years in local and Gulf health-care industry on license issued by Pakistan Nursing Council. On request of our RiskDiscovered client, the company conducted verification of her degree and license. The license issued by Pakistan Nursing Council was verified clear but her degree turned out to be Fake! When RiskDiscovered informed Pakistan Nursing Council about this situation, they themselves checked the authenticity of her degree and then revoked her license.

In another encounter last month, a news mentioned by JDSupra(Your Legal Intelligence) tells the story of Alabama doctor held responsible for wrongful death of patient. The wrongful death lawsuit accused the doctor of failing to provide instructions on how to properly and safely use some of the medications.  

These shocking two stories clearly defines that dangerous it is to hire a medical practitioner, doctor or physician without going through a proper medical credentialing process through primary source verification.

We all know that past predicts the image of future. And it’s extremely important to check each and everything about the medical staff before letting them to treat the innocent lives of humans. And medical credentialing via primary source verification is the best way to do it.

What are Four Major Steps a Medical Credentialing Company takes to while doing Primary Source Verification?

1.      Credentialing data verification sources

·         Graduation from medical school (any one of the following can be verified):

·         Confirmation from the medical school

·         American medical association or any other Country’s medial board/association to verify the membership.

·         Confirmation from the educational commission for foreign medical graduates.

2.      Valid license to practice medicine (any one of the following):

·         State licensure agency

·         Federation of state medical boards

3.      Completion of residency training (anyone of the following):

·         Confirmation from the residency training program

·         References from the training supervisors about the performance.

4.      Current Competence verification

·         This is an element that needs to be assessed by medical employers on the initial appointment and at least every two years thereafter, normally at the time of reappointment/reappraisal. Competency Verification can be sent to the Medical Director or Medical Staff Credentialing office of any hospital that the applicant has been affiliated with in the recent past.

Conclusion:

Almost 98,000 people die in hospitals annually each year due to preventable medical errors, medical malpractice and wrong medication. It’s always better to take precautions rather than finding a cure. Medical Credentialing via primary source verification is the best way to employ best doctor and other medical staff.

Muhammad Saad Khan is a Writer, Social Media and Business Management Thought Leader Working with Data flow Group, the world's leading primary source verification company headquartered in Singapore. His current research is about How Medical Credentialing via Primary Source Verification method is helpful in saving human lives.