Hospital credentialing is the most intensive credentialing process for medical providers, repeated more frequently than other credentialing standards and involving more organization contacts and supporting documents. The amount of staff time and the expense of researching every medical provider can be heavy, draining resources from other administrative functions, and requiring experienced staff and access to research resources. Yet hospitals have been slower than other medical organizations to outsource the credentialing process, despite potential benefits: faster turnaround time, cost-effectiveness, and savings in staff time and training.
Hospital credentialing covers the most detailed questions of any credentialing standard, from medical school through the providers complete career. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) creates manuals outlining the credentialing processes for all different medical providers within an institution. The proscribed areas have to be verified in ways that meet JCAHO standards. This entails direct contact with organizations associated with the provider, as well as receiving copies of all certificates and...