What must healthcare facilities do as part of the credentialing process?

The credentialing process in healthcare facilities is designed to ensure that healthcare providers have the necessary qualifications, skills, and professional competence to deliver safe and effective patient care. Querying the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) for malpractice judgments is a critical procedure because it provides a record of any malpractice claims made against healthcare practitioners, which helps safeguard patient safety and maintain standards within the healthcare system.

While reviewing a provider's resume and interviewing previous patients can contribute to a broader assessment of a provider's qualifications and patient satisfaction, these actions are not fundamental to the credentialing process. Watching a provider perform surgery, although providing direct observation of skills, is not a standard procedure in credentialing.

Querying the NPDB is essential as it helps identify any previous issues related to a provider's practice, ensuring only those with clean records and respected qualifications are allowed to serve patients. This measure helps in mitigating risks and enhancing the quality of care provided in healthcare facilities.