Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1544291
11 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING 2 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING Streamlined credentialing: an antidote for provider retention + patient access challenges Burnout is still a top-of-mind issue for providers and healthcare leaders alike. While many factors contribute, administrative friction continues to play a major role. Streamlining the credentialing experience is one way organizations can reduce unnecessary burden, ease frustration and support provider retention. Efficient, transparent processes not only accelerate onboarding but also signal operational competence from day one. For many clinicians, administrative tasks accumulate over time, eroding morale and engagement. Credentialing is a part of that burden — and often a provider's first interaction with a new organization. When the experience is slow, opaque or duplicative, it sets the wrong tone. "Over 90% of the time when a doctor starts a job at a new organization, the credentialing process is not pleasant, no matter how nice the people are," Dr. Heath said. To illustrate the daunting nature of credentialing, Dr. Heath explained how he recently had to complete a credentialing application as part of getting a license in another state. This required proof of employment at the first surgery practice he ever worked at — decades ago. "This is almost making me not want to get the license," he said. "And past employment history is just one element of around 80 in the credentialing application." The fragmented, decentralized nature of credentialing further compounds the burden on clinicians. Providers must complete separate credentialing processes for every healthcare organization with which they are affiliated. For some physicians, this can mean submitting the same information dozens of times across multiple entities. When Dr. Heath practiced medicine in Virginia, for example, he worked in four hospitals across three health systems, two ambulatory surgery centers and interacted with approximately 25 payers. "Every one of those entities had to credential me," he said. "So I had to supply 100 data points to over 30 different organizations. It was a tremendous burden." Leveraging technology to streamline credentialing not only enhances the provider experience, it also increases patient access to care. Getting clinicians on the job faster is essential for serving patients, especially in rural communities and other "care deserts" where provider shortages are most acute. Risk reduction: credentialing technology protects people + organizations Legacy credentialing processes carry real compliance risks, such as patient safety concerns, privileging gaps, audit findings and lapsed licenses. Outdated data also introduces material risk. Many healthcare organizations still rely on spreadsheets and paper-based files, limiting their ability to maintain accurate, current provider information. Without real-time updates, organizations face gaps in background checks and increased exposure to compliance risk, allowing providers with unresolved issues or prior sanctions to go undetected. "A provider may have red flags in other states, for example, but hospitals have no visibility into that. A system with data that's updated in real time is critical for compliance," John said. Manual credentialing is also error prone and labor intensive. As part of the process, it's common for back- office staff to visit various websites, enter data and then re-enter that information into other systems. Dr. Heath described these manual workflows as fraught with errors. Software-based solutions that support computer-to- computer connections remove the human element, which reduces errors. This is essential, Dr. Heath said, since clean data is the foundation of sound credentialing. Technology-based credentialing platforms allow healthcare organizations to reduce the labor required to manage credentialing at scale. "Through automation, it's possible for hospitals to reduce the number of individuals involved in the credentialing process from seven to one or two," Dr. Heath added. When it comes to compliance, another benefit of technology-enabled credentialing systems is license renewal reminders. Dr. Heath recalled a recent high- profile case, in which a doctor's state license lapsed because the office manager missed the state board of medicine's renewal reminder. The provider inadvertently ended up practicing without a license for a period of time. "This doctor was fined $10,000, but it had nothing to do with her clinical capabilities. In addition, the infraction will sit on her record forever," Dr. Heath said. Modern credentialing technology protects patients, providers and organizations from these types of risks by maintaining a single source of truth, automating alerts and ensuring compliance across state lines and care settings.