Should You Use a Recruiting Firm to Help with State Licenses?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As a locum tenens provider, having multiple state licenses can help you be more marketable for job opportunities. In obtaining multiple licenses, every state has different processes, timeframes and requirements so it may be beneficial to find a recruiting firm, such as Medestar, that will assist you with the process. Licensing and credentialing experts at recruiting firms typically provide services that include:

- Assisting with completion and submission of the state board application.
- Requesting all necessary verifications from entities such as your medical school, any post graduate training programs, hospitals you have previously been credentialed in, and other state medical boards you are currently licensed with or have inactive licenses with etc.
- Following up with those entities listed above to ensure the necessary verifications are being processed in a timely manner.
- Acting as a liaison between you and the state board.
- Making the process as easy for you as possible so you can focus on other things.

Applying for state licenses can be tedious and frustrating, however having a knowledgeable person assisting you can help alleviate the pains of the process.
_______________________________________________________________
 Lisa Burrow is the Director of Operations at Medestar.
Connect with Lisa:
LinkedIn 
Email

Read More

Tips for Streamlined Licensing and Credentialing

     When working locum tenens assignments, you may be required to fill out multiple credentialing applications for the different facilities in which you plan to work. Every hospital or clinic has their own credentialing process; however, many will require some of the same documents. Below are some of the standard documents you will need for credentialing in almost every facility.

1. Copies of Licenses, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, as well as your Controlled Substance Registration (CSR): Make sure to have all your currently held licenses ready as well as all those you have previously held.
2. Copies of schooling certificates: Be sure to include your undergraduate degree, medical degree, as well as any post graduate training such as internships and residency programs.
3. Educational Commission Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG): If applicable.
4. CV, updated: Facilities like to see CVs that are up-to-date and in a month/year format. Make sure all gaps in time on your CV are accounted for (since medical school) to side-step any possible hiccups in the credentialing process and to help ensure a faster credentialing time.
5. Board certification: If applicable. Be sure to provide proof of your board certification, or proof of plans to take the boards (such as a registration confirmation).
6. TB Test: Physicians and other hospital employees are often required to be tested for TB annually, so have the most recent results available.
7. Photo of yourself: The picture needs to be of you by yourself.
8. Copy of driver’s license or passport.
9. Uniform application for physician credentialing: This applies to certain facilities in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
10. Proof of completed Continuing Medical Education (CME): Include records for at least the previous two years.
11. Detailed explanation for any background issues including malpractice claims and payouts, suspended or revoked licenses, etc: Blemishes on your record do not necessarily mean you will not be able to be credentialed. Being honest up front about any background issues is better than having a hospital or facility find out by doing their own digging!
12. Miscellaneous Certifications: This could include Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), etc.

     Finding and preparing all of these documents can be a time consuming and overwhelming. It is a good idea to compile all of the pertinent information and have it in a central location for future credentialing or licensing.
______________________________________________________________
Megan Hernandez is part of the Operations team at Medestar.
Connect with Megan:
Email

Read More

FCVS-What is it and Should You Have it?

     As described by their website, the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is a service available for medical providers that keeps a record of everything from diplomas to a list of hospitals a provider has received credentials in. Applicants who complete the FCVS process establish a permanent, lifetime portfolio of primary-source verified credentials that can be used throughout the applicant's career for state licensure, hospital privileges, employment and professional memberships. This service is extremely valuable for physicians and for those graduating from medical schools outside the United States or Canada, where verification is often time consuming, costly and difficult. Finally, should the applicant's related programs close or records be permanently lost or destroyed, the FCVS records become invaluable for future credentialing verification needs.

     International medical school graduates are aware of the cost and time associated with obtaining verifications from their medical schools. As FCVS obtains the necessary verifications from your medical school and stores the information permanently in your Physician Information Profile, the time and cost to provide this verification will be reduced. FCVS has collaborated with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to provide verifications for physicians who were ECFMG certified after July 2004 within a few days.

     Hospitals and insurance providers can also use the FCVS profile in their credentialing process. FCVS meets the standards set by The Joint Commission and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Once your profile is established, this allows for hospitals and insurance applications to be processed quickly. 

     Some of the advantages of having a completed FCVS packet are as follows:

• Once FCVS has obtained the primary source verifications, the cost and time required for processing is reduced. Please note that any updates (i.e. additional training or completion of training that was previously in progress) will require additional processing time.
• Records are stored in a central location for ease of access.
• Emergency/disaster preparedness—meaning you won’t lose your verifications and information in case the original record is somehow destroyed.
• Records are available in the event of program closure (more than100 programs close each year).
• License portability—FCVS makes it easier to obtain multiple state licenses.
 __________________________________________________________________
 Carolyn Magilley is the Executive Director of Account Managing and Scheduling at Medestar. 
Connect with Carolyn:
LinkedIn
Email

Read More