For Allied Health
Professionals
At Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, the following Allied Health Professionals require sponsors and will need to be credentialed.
Initial Appointment
The credentialing process starts and the following occurs when a new allied health professional contacts the Medical Staff Services Department to request privileges at the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital:
1. A packet is sent to the allied health professional.
This packet includes:
Allied health professionals also receive an Employing/Sponsoring Practitioner Statement an I CARE Values form, a Remote Access Medical Record Access Application and Allied Health Professional Manual. Please note there is a non-refundable application fee of $100.00 for allied health professionals.
2. Once the packet is returned to the Medical Staff Services Department, a final check of the documents for completeness and accuracy will take place.
3. After the final check of documents takes place and everything is complete, the process of primary source verification of academic background, training, experience, licensures, malpractice claims history, certification and/or registration to practice in a health care field, will occur.
Verification of certain allied health professional data must be accomplished using specific criteria in order to be compliant with approved credentialing processes. If the data is not timely verified, additional delays to the credentialing process may result. This process can take 30-90 days depending on the complexity of the data and the number of data elements being verified and investigated.
4. After all data elements have been verified and the credentialing process is complete, the allied health professional's file is presented to designated committees and boards for recommendation and approval.
For questions concerning an allied health professional's status or to request a credentialing application packet, please contact the Medical Staff Services Department at 281.274.8064.
Reappointment
The reappointment process starts and the following occurs three months prior to an allied health professional's two-year anniversary:
1. A packet is sent to the allied health professional.
This packet includes:
The reappointment packets are required to be returned within 30 days. Failure to complete the reappointment process is considered a voluntary resignation.
Once the packet is returned to the Medical Staff Services Department, a final check of the documents for completeness and accuracy will take place.
2. After all data elements have been verified and the reappointment process is complete, the allied health professional's file is presented to designated committee and board for recommendation and approval.
For questions concerning a physician's status, please contact the Medical Staff Services Department at 281.274.7922.
Appointment & Reappointment Delays
Allied Health Professionals must have current licenses. Delay in acquiring any license will delay the credentialing and recredentialing process.
Delay will occur if an allied health professional does not fully complete and/or return the credentialing or recredentialing application by the requested date.
Delay will occur if verifications are not received in a timely manner. Complete contact information expedites the verification process; ie. email and/or fax numbers.
Delay will occur if an allied health professional has malpractice history, adverse findings and/or work history gaps. Complete information must be provided during credentialing and recredentialing process explaining each of these events.
The following information must be provided for malpractice history:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long will the credentialing process take?
A: Our goal is to complete new appointment application as soon as possible. This time frame is contingent upon the receipt of the completed credentialing application with requested information and receipt of all verifying documentation. The credentialing process usually takes 8-12 weeks to complete barring delay.
Q: Why is reappointment to the Medical Staff every two years important?
A: In order to comply with accreditation standards and the Medical Staff Bylaws, it is necessary to evaluate a physician's or allied health professional's performance, activity, licensure, clinical competence, malpractice history, and continuing medical education credits every two years.
- Physician Assistants
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Surgical Assistants/RNFAs
Initial Appointment
The credentialing process starts and the following occurs when a new allied health professional contacts the Medical Staff Services Department to request privileges at the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital:
1. A packet is sent to the allied health professional.
This packet includes:
- Cover letter
- Delineation of Privileges form
- Confidentiality and Security Agreement form
- Texas Standardized Credentialing Application
- Addendum to Texas Standardized Credentialing Application
- Professional Liability Insurance Corporate Standards information
Allied health professionals also receive an Employing/Sponsoring Practitioner Statement an I CARE Values form, a Remote Access Medical Record Access Application and Allied Health Professional Manual. Please note there is a non-refundable application fee of $100.00 for allied health professionals.
2. Once the packet is returned to the Medical Staff Services Department, a final check of the documents for completeness and accuracy will take place.
3. After the final check of documents takes place and everything is complete, the process of primary source verification of academic background, training, experience, licensures, malpractice claims history, certification and/or registration to practice in a health care field, will occur.
Verification of certain allied health professional data must be accomplished using specific criteria in order to be compliant with approved credentialing processes. If the data is not timely verified, additional delays to the credentialing process may result. This process can take 30-90 days depending on the complexity of the data and the number of data elements being verified and investigated.
4. After all data elements have been verified and the credentialing process is complete, the allied health professional's file is presented to designated committees and boards for recommendation and approval.
For questions concerning an allied health professional's status or to request a credentialing application packet, please contact the Medical Staff Services Department at 281.274.8064.
Reappointment
The reappointment process starts and the following occurs three months prior to an allied health professional's two-year anniversary:
1. A packet is sent to the allied health professional.
This packet includes:
- Cover letter
- Delineation of Privileges form
- Confidentiality and Security Agreement form
- Texas Standardized Credentialing Application
- Addendum to Texas Standardized Credentialing Application w/ third page for reappointment request
- Employing/Sponsoring Practitioner Statement
- Sponsoring Physician Evaluation
- Statement of Continuing Education (Physician Assistants only)
The reappointment packets are required to be returned within 30 days. Failure to complete the reappointment process is considered a voluntary resignation.
Once the packet is returned to the Medical Staff Services Department, a final check of the documents for completeness and accuracy will take place.
2. After all data elements have been verified and the reappointment process is complete, the allied health professional's file is presented to designated committee and board for recommendation and approval.
For questions concerning a physician's status, please contact the Medical Staff Services Department at 281.274.7922.
Appointment & Reappointment Delays
Allied Health Professionals must have current licenses. Delay in acquiring any license will delay the credentialing and recredentialing process.
Delay will occur if an allied health professional does not fully complete and/or return the credentialing or recredentialing application by the requested date.
Delay will occur if verifications are not received in a timely manner. Complete contact information expedites the verification process; ie. email and/or fax numbers.
Delay will occur if an allied health professional has malpractice history, adverse findings and/or work history gaps. Complete information must be provided during credentialing and recredentialing process explaining each of these events.
The following information must be provided for malpractice history:
- A brief summary of involvement in his/her own words.
- Date suit was filed.
- Current status of the suit(s) such as pending, settled, dismissed, closed.
- Amount of money paid on behalf of the physician or allied health professional.
- If information is incomplete or insufficient for any of these situations it will delay the credentialing and recredentialing process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long will the credentialing process take?
A: Our goal is to complete new appointment application as soon as possible. This time frame is contingent upon the receipt of the completed credentialing application with requested information and receipt of all verifying documentation. The credentialing process usually takes 8-12 weeks to complete barring delay.
Q: Why is reappointment to the Medical Staff every two years important?
A: In order to comply with accreditation standards and the Medical Staff Bylaws, it is necessary to evaluate a physician's or allied health professional's performance, activity, licensure, clinical competence, malpractice history, and continuing medical education credits every two years.