Why competency assessment is moving beyond paperwork

One recurring theme among clinicians is the growing emphasis on evaluating real-world performance rather than relying solely on historical documentation.

David Ghozland, MD, gynecologic surgeon at Intimate Health Center who works closely with credentialing teams and resident education programs, says hospitals are increasingly interested in observing actual clinical performance when making privileging decisions.

“My surgical occupation keeps me in close contact with the credentialing teams, and my duties in educating the residents place me within the review process and determine who is fit to perform advanced procedures,” he says. “I am regularly engaged in peer evaluations, which provides me with a clear picture of how hospitals optimize their privilege decisions.”

According to Ghozland, performance-based assessments can provide information that traditional application materials cannot.

“Hospitals are much better at making decisions now when they are no longer relying on stagnant paperwork and instead observe the performance of a surgeon in the process of a working procedure,” he says.

While formal credentialing standards continue to rely heavily on verified education, training, licensure, and experience, many organizations are supplementing those requirements with ongoing professional practice evaluation, focused professional practice evaluation, peer review, and competency monitoring programs.

Additionally, hospitals are frequently opting for continuous assessment models that provide a more complete picture of provider performance over time compared to episodic credentialing events.

The 2026 MSP Salary Survey Report suggests the profession is well positioned to support these efforts. More than 65% of respondents hold at least one National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) credential, so we know there is a strong commitment to professional expertise and competency-based evaluation processes.

Editor’s note: This article was excerpted from our Medical Staff Briefing newsletter.