Vendor reps: Should they be credentialed?

Are you aware that there is credentialing going on in your hospital—and it’s not in the medical staff department? If you are, you’re in the minority. Just like many are not aware that a medical staff services department (MSSD) exists, few people give a thought to all those “others” roaming the hallways of your hospital. You might know them as healthcare industry reps, vendor reps, contract personnel, medical device reps, or commercial visitors. Whatever they may be called, they are entering your hospital, providing services in a patient care area, or assisting with equipment in the OR. MSPs are the gatekeepers of patient safety, but often they are not familiar with “the others” that enter their facility.

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