“Physicians Credentialing experts provide physicians with information about physicians credentials, malpractice defenses, and other important information regarding a physician’s practice,” says Dr. Josephnea L. Deutsch, Chair of the Physician’s Practitioner Education and Awareness Programs at the American College of Physicians. “The physician credentialing process is complex, time-consuming, and expensive.” A doctor has to earn both Professionalism Points and Quality Points from participating in a particular specialty. To know if one is eligible for a credentialing discount program, one must understand how the process works.
“We are among the premier pain management center. Our pain physicians specialize in providing the most advanced pain management solutions for acute and chronic pain. Our licensed physicians treat non-traumatic pain as well as patients who have suffered a traumatic event. Our pain physicians offer pain management for chronic and acute pain within the area.”
When a physician provides health care services, such as primary care, preventive services, specialty services, hospital services, and surgical services, he or she must be licensed and participate in a reciprocated licensing program. Each state establishes its own set of physician credentialing standards. Like all states, it requires that physicians complete a national certification in pain medicine before they can practice pain medicine in the State.
The National Association of Boards of Medicine and the American Board of Medical specialties are the government-recognized authorities in the credentialing of physicians. Both organizations perform periodic inspections of physicians’ credentials to determine their compliance with standards laid down by the State Department of Health. The Department of Health has specific laws and regulations about the quality and appropriateness of pain services, including radiology services. The state’s hospitals also must participate in an approved pain physician program. All physician information is collected and maintained in a pain physician database system accessible to other physicians and hospital staff to ensure accurate treatment and protect both the patient and other healthcare professionals.
As part of their responsibilities as credentialing authorities, physicians continually examine the competence of other physicians. The State Department of Health is responsible for the continuing education of physicians on pain control and other emerging trends in medicine. In keeping with these changes, the state requires physicians to take continuing medical education courses every two years. Physicians, however, are allowed to choose which classes they want to enroll in.
There is a Statewide Physician Credentialing Expert Panel, which consists of 11 physicians from across the state. This panel meets once each year to evaluate the activities of the current and former physicians in the State health care system. To be considered for this membership, a physician must meet certain standards, including having a minimum of one year of experience in pain-related services. The panel also requires that the member be a resident and have at least five years of experience in a similar specialty.
Once a physician has been accepted onto the panel, he or she will have the opportunity to access the database. The primary purpose of this database is to help other physicians identify those physicians who possess the highest levels of skill and knowledge in their specialty. In addition to the physician’s own qualifications, the panel makes recommendations regarding the care of other physicians. Recommendations are generally based on the member’s experience, level of skill, specialization, and other considerations. The panel also publishes a physician’s Credentialing Report, which details the scope of the recommendations made by the panel and provides information regarding any actions taken by other physicians to address the recommendations.
Physician credentialing experts have been at the forefront of transforming the healthcare landscape. They play an important role in improving the quality of care provided by doctors in the United States. Without the assistance of these specialists, patients could be subject to potentially fraudulent and even harmful medical practices. In fact, in many cases, these professionals play a leading role in protecting the public from harm. By providing consumers with access to quality and timely information regarding the health care credentials of physicians, they help ensure that everyone gets the best possible healthcare.
