This is your week

In 1992, President George Bush signed a Congressional House Joint Resolution proclaiming the first week in November as National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week. In the 23 years since then, medical staff services have become ever more integral to healthcare organizations of all sizes. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean your role is understood or fully appreciated, so this week's Credentialing Resource Center Insider content is devoted to medical staff services awareness.

We'll start with a tip from Maggie Palmer, MSA, CPMSM, CPCS, FACHE, from the latest issue of Credentialing Resource Center Journal:

Core Competencies for MSPs

As MSPs, you're very familiar with the six core competencies of the ACGME and ABMS. However, with a few word changes, these can become six core competencies for MSPs. With your own statements, you can customize these core competencies to gauge your job performance and to help others understand the importance of what you do and what you can offer to your organization.

2. Medical [staff professional] knowledge. MSPs must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving medical staff bylaws, regulatory requirements, privileging, OPPE/FPPE, provider enrollment, governmental requirements (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.), and the application of this knowledge.

And that's just scratching the surface of what we do. As you expand your knowledge, be prepared to share what you know. For example, provider enrollment is coming soon to a medical staff services office near you, and I suggest you get ready for it.

Learn medical terminology. It's very helpful when you're in a meeting and can understand what they're talking about. Google filters and websites like abbreviation.com can really help with this.

Get familiar with what is important to your leadership. Check out the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association websites, and read the educational pieces. Do a little research‑if you're in this field, you love research.

Source: The MSP's Voice column, Credentialing Resource Center Journal, December 2015.