OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
We are very pleased to provide the healthcare industry with our fifth annual credentialing report . The survey that resulted in this report was taken in December 2020 / January 2021 , and the report definitely includes the impact of the pandemic on credentialing offices and departments across the United States . We knew that increased hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 had a significant impact on credentialing . Because of that , we added a section on the impact of COVID-19 to this year ’ s survey . We find those results to be important as we evaluate what transpired in 2020 as well as consider the impact beyond 2021 .
When healthcare organizations declared themselves to be in a disaster , credentialing departments in many of those organizations found themselves struggling to meet the credentialing needed to quickly allow providers from outside the organization – or even their State – to see and treat patients . We first saw hospitals in New York and New Jersey getting assistance from providers from all over the country and then other areas of the United States followed . Credentialing departments needed to quickly authorize / credential providers to deliver necessary patient services . This authorization was achieved by either disaster credentialing , temporary privileges , or full credentialing . And many organizations used a combination of those methods , depending on the type of services provided and where the temporary providers came from . For example , some health systems were able to put a relatively simple process in place to permit providers already credentialed by one or more hospitals within their health system to provide temporary services at hospitals within the system where they were not currently privileged . Other hospitals chose to fully credential temporary providers or did partial credentialing and granted temporary privileges . And along with dealing with providers who were onsite , credentialing departments had to deal with telehealth providers and the changing regulations associated with how those providers could be authorized to provide services And – all of this occurred when approximately 75 % of credentialing departments became remote - either completely or partially .
What we learned and experienced during the pandemic will forever change credentialing departments and medical staff offices . Organizations that had already implemented credentialing software that allowed for electronic processing were quickly able to transition to working remotely . Some of them already had at least some remote staff . Other organizations had software that allowed for electronic processing , but for various reasons , hadn ’ t fully implemented it . The need to implement to become totally electronic became critical – and , speaking for HealthStream , we can attest that we had many requests for assistance to help implement online applications , electronic decision-making processes , etc . that allowed the work of credentialing and the medical staff organization to continue without delays . We believe that one of the lessons learned during the pandemic is that we can perform excellent credentialing electronically and efficiently . We can work with Department Chairs to review files electronically , the Credentials Committee can meet virtually or via Zoom or Teams and the same excellent credentialing that was achieved when we sat across a desk from a Department Chair or convened a Credentials Committee meeting over lunch in a hospital meeting room is possible to achieve through electronic processing . It isn ’ t putting hands on paper that is important – it is making sure that relevant information is accessible , evaluated , and considered in the decision-making process . Will some of these organizations go back to “ normal ” and abandon electronic processing ? We do not think so . We have heard from too many medical services / credentialing professionals and physicians that appreciate the ability to do their work where they are rather than having to meet in person . It is more efficient and fits in better with today ’ s lifestyle . Would any of us want to go back to the days when we had to go inside a bank to make a deposit or withdraw money ? I think not – once we discovered ATMs , we would never intentionally limit ourselves to banking when the banks are open – to say nothing of driving to the bank , finding a parking place , standing in line for a teller , etc . That same logic is applicable to the credentialing process . Applicants like online applications , Department Chairs appreciate being able to review a file when it is convenient for them www . healthstream . com 3