Credentialing often reveals many things about a healthcare professional’s past. While some of them may be benign events, a significant number of healthcare professionals who apply for credentialing come with questionable papers and inadequate clinical experience. Some of the warning signs include:
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The reluctance of the applicant to provide permission to contact the previous employer or healthcare institution
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The reluctance of the application to provide specific references or perhaps the references are too vague
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Sudden relinquishment of licensure or medical staff membership
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Sudden loss of privileges in a hospital
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Marked gaps in clinical practice
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Short tenure at multiple hospitals
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An unusually high number of professional liability actions with the final judgment against the practitioner[9]
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History reveals substance abuse, domestic violence, or unprofessional conduct
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History of being investigated by the state board of licensure or other healthcare organizations
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Major gaps in insurance coverage
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Evidence of poor program evaluations more than once
