Credentialing and small practice advocacy

[Guest guest]

When I saw this topic a couple of days ago, I wanted to answer right away, but I

was in the midst of the frenzy that occurs when I must fill out the kind of

forms (12 pages, online) that make me gather copies of a diploma from medical

school, internship, residency #1, residency # 2, and all CME certificates from

the past 2 years (not the list the AAFP or Medical Society keeps), Dea

certificate, License, social security card, drivers license, malpractice face

sheet, CV, Board Certification certificate, and a photograph.

Then I must contact all the internship, and residency programs to send

verifications that I was really there (the diplomas/certificates are not

enough). I also must request letters of good standing from the institutions

with which I have been affiliated for the past 5 years to be sent, but they

will not be accepted if they start with " To Whom it May Concern. " I must also

have 2 letters of recommendation and give them 4 names of people who they can

ask about me.

They want to know which professional society memberships etc. I belong to. Of

course they want my UPIN #, and etc., and then there are 19 questions about

whether or not I have ever done any of the no-no's. And my liability carrier

must submit any claims I have had, including details with patient names. Isn't

that a violation of Hippa?

Oh yes and my health with all medical diagnoses and whether or not they will

affect my abilities. And then read the bylaws and departmental rules and

regulations. The I have to go some special place to get fingerprinted, supply

them with a release so they can do a state/national search to see if I have have

ever been involved in child abuse (just since 1975, but why that date?) And I

must go to employee health to be tested for alcohol and other drugs.

AND ALL OF THIS IS FOR??? I got a job in an urgent care that takes the local

hospital's health insurance; in order to be credentialed for them, I must have

staff privileges...but, get this, I do not get the kind of privileges that allow

me to care for hospital patients, nor even to visit them in the hospital and

read the chart. No, but I can go to staff meetings! The real kicker is that I

did my family medicine residency at this hospital.

So, after a year, when I finally can open my practice, will I want to go here?

God knows what I would have to do to see patients. Perhaps they would like my

kindergarten diploma too!!

I had to ask for references from specialists (the ones I used are great to work

with) and the guy I last worked for. Wouldn't it be nicer if I could know some

other IMP's locally? Perhaps we could visit each other's offices, see how we

practice, cover for each other? I do not know how it could be done by just a

list serve or by just meeting. Don't we really have to see how the other cares

for patients?

Sorry this is so long. I just wanted to point out some of the absurdities.