For Physicians

Initial Appointment

The credentialing process starts and the following occurs when a physician contacts the Medical Staff Services Department to request privileges at the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital:

    1. A packet is sent to the physician.

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 

 

Physicians also receive a Pharmacy signature card, a Medicaid/Medicare form, an I CARE Values form, a Remote Access Medical Record Access Application and a copy of the Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules and Regulations. Please note there is a non-refundable application fee of $200 for physicians.

    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 practitioner 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 physician's file is presented to designated committees and boards for recommendation and approval


For questions concerning a physician'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 five months prior to a physician's two-year anniversary:

    1. A packet is sent to the physician.

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 
• Statement of Continuing Education 

 

Please note there is a non-refundable reappointment fee of $100.

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 physician's file is presented to designated committees and boards for recommendation and approval.
  
    Verification of certain practitioner data must be accomplished using specific criteria in order to be compliant with approved reappointment processes. The time varies depending on the complexity of the data and the number of data elements being verified and investigated.
 
For questions concerning a physician's status, please contact the Medical Staff Services Department at 281.274.7922.


Appointment & Reappointment Delays

Practitioners must have a current:

• Texas State Medical License 
• DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) License 
• DPS (Department of Public Safety) License 

 

Delay in acquiring these documents will delay the credentialing and recredentialing process. If a practitioner's DEA is registered in another state, he/she must apply to have it transferred to Texas.

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 a physician 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.