Credentialing and recredentialing involve collection and reviewing of data and information by a validating or licensing body. The credentialing staff collects data and forwards it to a credentialing committee. The committee then moves to verify the data and tests credentials against established standards and guidelines. This paper focuses on the credentialing and recredentialing process in the health sector and how it influences the quality of services offered by health organizations.
Credentialing and recredentialing of healthcare organizations ensures professionalism is upheld in the health sector and quality services are accorded to patients. A credentialing process seeks to shield patients from healthcare quacks and malpractices. Credentialing bodies focus on validating qualifications in terms of education and training, licensing, and certification.
In order for a health organization to be accredited, it must satisfy three basic requirements. Hamm (2007) details the requirements as that an organization should not opt for excessive dangerous procedures and prescriptions such as X-ray tests, open heart surgery, hysterectomies, and mood altering drugs. Secondly, an organization should not underuse proved, effective, and appropriate health care practices. Organizations should also conform to quality standards by ensuring their technical and professional capacity is at par with specified standards.
Managed care organizations streamline the credentialing process. These organizations make sure that healthcare givers go beyond fulfilling basic accreditation requirements. They regularly scrutinize an organization's performance in major areas of concern and record the information on a database. This ensures that health care givers uphold professionalism and offer quality services to patients at all times and not just before an impending audit (Hospital Alliance Association, 2014).
Credentialing and recredentialing in the health sector is a useful undertaking that protects the patients' rights. A Credentialing and recredentialing activity focuses not only on qualifications but also performance of all activities that affect the safety of patients. Credentialing ensures that organizations do the right things in a proper way.
References
Hamm, M.S. (2007). Quality Improvement Initiatives in Accreditation: Private Sector Examples and Key Lessons for Public Health. Retrieved from http://www.phaboard.org/wp- content/uploads/QIInitiativesinAccreditation.pdf
Hospital Alliance Association. (2014). The joint commission on accerditition of healthcare organizations. Retrieved from http://hospaa.org/the-joint-commission-on-accreditation- of-health-care-organizations-jcaho-2/
