Getting Started FAQ's	Initial Credentialing FAQ'S	Reappointment FAQ'S	Miscellaneous FAQ'S
How does the initial credentialing application process begin?  What is in the initial application packet?	When does the initial application process begin?  How is credentialing accomplished?  What are the hospitals' appointment processes?  How long does it take to process a credentialing application?  When and how are temporary privileges granted?	How often must practitioners reappoint/reapply for membership & privileges?  What is in the reappointment application packet?  When does the reappointment process begin?   How are delinquent applications prevented?	What is the credentialing process?  Who should be called regarding the credentialing process?  What credentials are practitioners required to maintain?  How can the practitioner's information be updated?  How do I terminate a practitioner who leaves UT Southwestern, retires, or changes status?

 GETTING STARTED FAQ'S:

 How does the initial credentialing application process begin?
Complete a Provider Request Form "PRF", found at W:\PUB\Policies\Prov_Req_Form\.  Forward via GroupWise to everyone listed at the top of the PRF, regardless of which delegating hospital is being requested. 

When the practitioner is requesting clinical privileges at Children's, you must submit a CV with the PRF,  for pre-screening, a verification of institution-specific qualifications. 

Each hospital will review the request and will send you  hospital-specific and privilege forms.  Upon confirmation/approval from each hospital, please follow the instructions below for completing the application. 

 What is in the initial application packet?
UT Southwestern-affiliated hospitals have agreed to share specific documents essential to ensure the collaboration of the credentialing process for UT Southwestern faculty applying for clinical privileges at more than one organization.  These documents are:

• The Texas Standardized Credentialing Application, Rev. 1/07 (TSCA)
• Addendum to the Texas Standardized Credentialing Application

Each organization has individualized credentialing processes; therefore, each applicant must apply to each staff for membership and clinical privileges.  If you have additional questions, please contact the appropriate hospital's medical staff office.

 INITIAL CREDENTIALING FAQ'S:

 When does the initial application process begin?
When the completed packet, including signed TSCA, addendum, all required attachments (as detailed on each hospital's checklist), the practitioner's photo, the signed hospital-specific privileges, and the Chairman's Letter of Recommendation, are returned to each hospital where the practitioner is requesting clinical privileges, then the credentialing process begins. 

 How is credentialing accomplished?

• All provider demographic data is entered into the credentialing databases
• Verification correspondence is forwarded to the institutions affiliated with the practitioner education, training, work history, references, etc by each hospital
• Notices will be sent to Department Contact when required information is missing from each hospital
• When all of the verifications are received, each hospital will prepare the application for their individual committee structures and approval processes. 

 What are the hospitals' appointment processes?

• Each UT Southwestern affiliated hospital presents the application for review by the appropriate Department Chair
• It is then forwarded to the each hospitals Credentials Committee and ultimately to each hospitals Board of Directors for final action. 
• Once privileges are granted, each hospital will inform the applicant the date privileges are granted.  Practitioners do not have permission to provide patient care services until they receive the dated notice. 

 How long does it take to process a credentialing application?
The time to process a credentialing application depends on how much information must be verified.  For example foreign graduates and someone who has practiced for many years and has had many hospital affiliations or state licenses will occasionally take longer to process. 
Applicants will be contacted to assist in obtaining any complex primary source verifications.  The burden of providing a complete application lies solely with the applicant.

 When and how are temporary privileges granted?
Each UT Southwestern affiliated hospital has their own policies and procedures for issuing Temporary Privileges.  Please contact the primary contact for each hospital where the applicant is requesting temporary privileges.  Please note that the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has strict standards for the granting of temporary privileges.  Therefore, each request will be evaluated by each hospital where the applicant is requesting temporary privileges on a case by case basis. 

 REAPPOINTMENT FAQ'S:

 How often must practitioners reappoint/reapply for membership & privileges?
All members are required to reapply for membership & privileges every two years - most are on a 20-24 month cycle at each facility where they currently hold clinical privileges. Each physician/dentist is required to provide documentation of continued clinical competency in order to maintain privileges. 

 What is in the reappointment application packet?
Practitioners who currently hold clinical privileges at more than one organization may already have saved the TSCA on their personal computers.  If so, please click here to access the Addendum to the Texas Standardized Credentialing Application and Continuing Education Attestation.  If the practitioner does not have a saved TSCA please contact the specific hospital and a pre-populated TSCA will be provided to the practitioner. 

Each organization has individualized re-credentialing processes therefore each applicant must reappoint/reapply to each Medical/Dental staff for membership and clinical privileges.   Each hospital will send you forms specific to each organization that must be submitted along with these campus wide documents. 

 When does the reappointment process begin? 
Practitioners are requested to return completed reapplication packets and documentation within 30 days of receipt of packet. The re-credentialing process begins when the completed packet is received.

 How are delinquent applications prevented?
Reminder notices are sent to practitioner and Department Contact to guarantee receipt of the application for timely processing.

The practitioner is ultimately responsible for completing and returning the reapplication packet to each specific hospital where they currently hold clinical privileges.

 MISCELLANEOUS FAQ'S:

 What is the credentialing process?
The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires that hospitals perform 'Primary Source Verification' - this means that we have to verify the information directly from each hospital, university or licensing board that the applicant has ever been affiliated with.   The process requires the hospitals to rely on the turn around time of each entity to reply to our request for information. In addition, each hospital has their own policies and procedures that also govern the credentialing process. 

 Who should be called regarding the credentialing process?
For questions relating to the processing of an application, call the primary contact for each UT Southwestern affiliated hospital.  The primary contact will transfer you to the Credentialing Professional handling the actual file.

 What credentials are practitioners required to maintain?
Practitioners should contact each hospital where they currently hold clinical privileges regarding specific required credentials. Listed below are examples of credentials that are universally required:

• Current Texas License 
• Current DEA & DPS (if applicable)
• Insurance
• Board Certification (if applicable)
• Annual Tuberculin Skin Test (Practitioners who have tested positive in the past, can complete a health questionnaire.)  Please contact Occupational Health at any of the UT Southwestern affiliated hospital for more information.
• In order to maintain sedation privileges at Children's you must maintain current PALS, ACLS, ATLS or NRP

 How can the practitioner's information be updated?
Please e-mail or fax any changes to credentialing or demographic information to each hospital's primary contacts where the practitioner currently holds clinical privileges.

How do I terminate a practitioner who leaves UTSWMC, retires, or changes to a research only status?

• Complete the PRF and indicate appropriate changes.
• Submit PRF form to the names listed on PRF.
• Remember - only term the parts of the process you want eliminated for a provider. (Hospital Privileges, Managed Care Credentialing, Billing Enrollment) the practitioner may term from one but not the others.

NOTE:  A specific letter is required from the practitioner in order to term membership and privileges at Children's. 
NOTE: If a practitioner terminates from Managed Care participation for longer than 30 days, the practitioner must be processed as a new practitioner to become reinstated.