Physician credentialing. A centralized verification system.

Abstract

The current system for credentialing physicians in the U.S. is staggeringly redundant, prone to error, and expensive. The process for establishing a recent graduate's practice can involve an average of five applications to have privileges at several hospitals and HMOs. A centralized verification system needs to be developed to streamline this process. The amount of information that would have to be stored for all physicians in the country would be immense. However, the technology currently exists to store such information on a much grander scale. Credit unions, banks, and insurance companies utilize such computer systems effectively and with reasonable confidentiality.