Whether you are a Physician, Advanced Practice Provider, or Registered Nurse you will have to undergo a thorough credentialing process to work as a locum tenens provider. This process is often daunting and is the source of many locum tenens nightmares. Here are 6 tips and tricks to help make this process as smooth as possible.

1. Keep all of your documents saved in one place
Credentialing is a comprehensive process looking into a provider's past, from their education to their most recent assignment. For any provider, it can be a challenge to find some documents, especially older documents such as diplomas and older malpractice insurance cover sheets.
Keeping all your important documents saved in a folder on your phone or your computer can be a lifesaver when it comes to making this process swift. These documents are mandatory, so it is better to keep them organized from the beginning, so you do not have to worry about them later.

2. Ensure you are transparent with any issues in your background
The background portion of the credentialing process is integral, while it does touch on your clinical capabilities, it also reflects who you are personally. If a provider fails to mention something in their background and it comes up later this is a massive red flag.
Being transparent with your recruiter as well as the credentialing team will ensure there are no hiccups while your background is being verified. If you are unsure about anything ensure you make that well known too.

3. Proof of history of malpractice insurance
Malpractice insurance is something that is highly recommended and often required. Any time that you start a new assignment it is VERY important that you request and keep a copy of the malpractice cover sheet. The industry only used to request a history of malpractice for 5-10 years. As the industry is evolving, the standard is continuously changing.
The industry is moving towards requesting malpractice history dating back to residency. So, you must do your best to save all these documents for credentialing.

4. Your resume is more than just an introduction to who you are
As a clinician, your CV does more than just provide an insight into your accomplishments. It reflects your entire history since graduation, from your first internship to your latest assignment.
The more in-depth and detailed your CV is, the easier and more seamless your credentialing will be.
The most important information for you to have on your CV is the name of institutions you attended or the facility you worked at as well as the month and year of your start and end dates. The recommended formatting is (MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY). Ensure this is always up to date and there is no missing information!

5. Communication is the key to success
While you are credentialing for a locum tenens assignment, it is likely you are already working, and your schedule is very busy. This is understandable, it is important to let your recruiter/credentialing specialist know when you will be working to complete documents to ensure they can provide you with an accurate timeline.
The last thing anyone wants is to interrupt you while you are practicing medicine to discuss your credentialing for a different facility.

6. Utilizing the credentialing software to its fullest extent
We at SHG Healthcare offer a simple and easy way to credential by utilizing our credentialing software. Being GDPR compliant and following NCQA and JCAHO standards means all of your documents are secure and we do not risk them being compromised.
It is imperative to us that all of your private information cannot be stolen, we work diligently to ensure this is the case.
The benefits of this software do not stop at cyber security though. A very user-friendly software empowering clinicians to upload documents and view where they are in the credentialing process. Gone are the days of documents being lost in email chains.