Pursue the certification that is right for you

As credentialing activity picks up speed across the care continuum, more and more MSPs are working in environments where certification may not yet have a reputation as the gold standard. Still, even in settings where certification hasn’t caught on, a National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) credential can showcase skill and support advancement, says Carol Cairns, CPMSM, CPCS, advisory consultant with The Greeley Company and president of PRO-CON, an Illinois-based medical staff services consulting group.

For example, MSPs in managed care environments and credentials verification organizations, who spend the bulk of their time verifying credentials, should consider the CPCS, which supports competence in credentialing, regulatory and accreditation standards, and analysis of verification information, says Cairns. Although the CPCS is also valuable for MSPs in acute care environments, the CPMSM goes a step further, helping these professionals demonstrate expertise in the development and implementation of diverse processes and procedures, including credentialing, privileging, and provider enrollment. Such broad skill sets are critical to successful execution of the medical staff services department’s widening array of responsibilities, says Cairns. Therefore, MSPs in acute care facilities who lack the means to pursue dual certification should opt for the CPMSM, according to Cairns. “If you’re in a hospital, it’s that management piece that demonstrates a broader knowledge base, and I think career-wise, it’s better for you.”

Recruitment is another factor that can deter organizations from requiring certification. HR personnel and MSPs in rural facilities may shy away from mandating certification to avoid depleting an already shallow pool of candidates, says Cairns.

Regardless of available talent, certification is essential to ensuring a medical staff services workforce is competent and committed, says Cairns. An alternative to positioning certification as a hard and fast condition of hire is requiring new employees to gain certification within a certain time frame, such as 6–18 months or, for newcomers to the field, upon eligibility.

Source: 2016 MSP Salary Survey Special Report

Want to learn more?

It’s not too late to register for the 2017 Credentialing Resource Center Symposium, April 6–7 in Austin, Texas. Join us for expert guidance on a wide range of topics. For credentialing insights, the following sessions may be of particular interest:

• Credentialing Advancements in a New Delivery Era: Real Results in Alignment Between Credentialing, Provider Enrollment, and Delegation. In today’s integrated healthcare environment, credentialing has evolved into a mega process with far-reaching implications, and the MSP’s job holds greater—and more expansive—significance than ever before. In this session, attendees will learn how MSPs can play an instrumental role in maximizing an organization’s financial position; how the efficiency of credentialing has a direct impact on revenue enhancement; and how effective alignment between credentialing, provider enrollment, and delegation can benefit the organization.
• Credentialing at the Extremes of the Age Spectrum: Challenges Posed by Young and Old Practitioners. Both new and seasoned physicians raise a unique set of competency concerns. For physicians straight out of training, there is a growing concern about their readiness to practice without additional proctoring or mentoring. For older physicians, questions regarding fitness for duty start to emerge. In this session, faculty will review policies and procedures that are widely used to address the competency of older practitioners and will address the related legal concerns. They will also highlight various resources that can assist in the evaluation of competency concerns involving young or late-career practitioners.

For more information about the 2017 Credentialing Resource Center Symposium, visit www.hcmarketplace.com/2017CRCSYMPOSIUM.