Querying the NPDB for other departments

A recruiter has asked the medical staff services department to query the NPDB on a physician being recruited to the hospital. Is that okay?

If the recruiter asks an MSP to run an NPDB report, say no. What is recruitment going to do with that information? It is a competency judgment to decipher a NPDB report, which requires a physician leader. If recruitment is going to have a physician leader review the report, now this is getting into a medical staff services function. That is not recruitment’s job.

The above information is from Christine Mobley, CPMSM, CPCS, during her session Onboarding the Community, Contracted, and Employed Physicians at the 39th Annual National Association Medical Staff Services Education Conference held this week. If you have more questions about using the NPDB, tune into the HCPro webcast, FPPE and the Revised NPDB Guidebook: How to Address New Reporting Challenges on Thursday, November 12.