Despite the clear competency crossover in medical staff services and provider enrollment, not everyone is taking advantage of the alignment opportunities. Over half of respondents to the 2017 MSP Salary Survey (55.6%) who work on teams that facilitate medical staff services report that, while their organization also performs provider enrollment, those services are handled by a different department.

Some innovative health systems have established a physician navigator position to help a physician who is to be employed by the health system navigate the myriad complexities of human resources, physician recruiting, medical staff services, payer credentialing, and physician practice management, all of which are required to be successfully onboarded to the health system. To ensure success, you’ll need to fill the physician navigator role with the right person. Today's free resource is a sample job description.

Along with their existing medical staff credentialing obligations, MSPs are increasingly tasked with managing provider enrollment duties. With a solid grasp of the payer credentialing process and requirements, MSPs can avoid payer credentialing delays to reduce lost revenue.

Accreditation certifies that an organization has met specific quantified standards. Similarly, accrediting bodies are certified in terms of their ability to measure these standards. Usually, the top rung on the accreditation ladder is a sole agency, which may have the government as the primary stakeholder. Deepak Gupta, MD, and Sarwan Kumar, MD,believe there can be an alternative to preemptive, pre-hoc certification when it comes to (a) teaching medicine in education programs under the eye of the ACGME and (b) practicing medicine in healthcare facilities under the eye of The Joint Commission.

While the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the most prevalent certifying body, recent developments in physician certification have increased interest in other available options. This summary points out some of the aforementioned developments, the latest certifying entity to arrive on the scene, and what considerations may be fruitful for organizations that want to investigate options for their board certification requirements.

Looking to start your year earning continuing education credits? The 2019 CRC Symposium gives MSPs, physician leaders, and quality professionals the chance to earn CEUs in their field while networking with colleagues from around the nation. Held February 26-28 in Las Vegas, this three-day medical staff event offers the following continuing education opportunities:

• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME): 16.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
• National Association Medical Staff Services: 16 continuing education units
• National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ): 18 CPHQ continuing education credits

The 2019 CRC Symposium, being held in Las Vegas February 26–28, features a combination of new and returning speakers, physicians, and medical staff professionals. These speakers are experts in credentialing, privileging, provider enrollment, quality, physician leadership, and medical staff committee functions. Here, CRCJ introduces you to this year’s lineup of speakers with a taste of the kind of insights they will provide attendees.

Make sure your voice is heard during the 2019 CRC Symposium Experience by participating in one of the following:

1. Submit your questions ahead of time. During the opening session, our expert faculty will answer your toughest credentialing and privileging questions. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time to make sure they are answered during the session. Please submit your questions or topics to discuss to editor Karen Kondilis, kkondilis@hcpro.com.
2. Attend our networking reception. On Day 1, from 5-6:00 p.m. come network with colleagues, visit our exhibitors, and enjoy a drink with HCPro! This is open to all attendees—you do not need to register.