Cirrus Medical Group’s credentialing department poses for a frightening Halloween photo. The department placed second in the Charlotte, NC office’s scariest office decorating contest. From left to right: Kathy Cianelle, Rebecca Leavitt, Beverly Norris, Carolee Carpenter, and Amber Moore.
Often feared by travelers weary of nearing deadlines and mandatory requirements, Chief Clinical Officer Rebecca Leavitt says there is no reason to be afraid of the credentialing department.
Despite the department’s enthusiasm for the spooky October holiday, “the credentialing specialists are always trying to accommodate the traveler the best they can to make the process as painless as possible while still meeting all of the obligations associated with travel assignments,” said Leavitt. Credentialing specialists serve as a liaison between a facility and a traveler, gathering all of the required documents a facility requires prior to a traveler’s first day on the job.
Examples of credentialing specialists going out of their way to serve travelers are frequent and plentiful. On two occasions this week, the team resolved conflicts at an administrative level so that travelers’ would not be burdened with additional trips to a drug-screening facility. In addition, another traveler enjoyed the convenience of relocating a visit for an immunization to a facility when she had to abruptly leave town to handle an unexpected family emergency.
“Our goal is to provide the greatest efficiency and convenience to our busy travelers. We understand that credentialing can be a lengthy process. However, we are able to respond quickly to a traveler’s changing needs when he or she communicates with us,” said Credentialing Specialist Beverly Norris.
There are several steps travelers can take to expedite the process:
- Communicate directly with a credentialing specialist early on when problems arise. Oftentimes the team can settle a conflict with relative ease if it is aware of an issue as soon as possible.
- Maintain a thorough portfolio of all licenses, certifications, references and other documents. Your work history should include a comprehensive summary for the past five years.
- Verify all documents are legible.
- Send enlarged copies of driver’s licenses and other documents.
- Stay informed of upcoming license expiration dates.
Leavitt encourages travelers to utilize technology to stay organized. “In this day and age, everyone has a calendar on their computer or mobile device. Why not set a reminder 60 days in advance of every expiration?” she said.
The department itself employs the latest technology to maximize efficiency and expedite the process for travelers. In the past credentialing offices contained lots of paperwork, but now a majority of the workflow is digital. Sustaining a computerized profile for each traveler allows the department to seamlessly integrate all of the various components that make up credentialing into a single organized environment.
“We’ve earned our position as the leader in health care staffing industry in part by utilizing the latest technology throughout our operations. Cirrus is committed to equipping and training our skilled employees with the tools they need, and this allows our credentialing specialists to stay on top of the rigorous demands and challenges they overcome on a daily basis,” said Cirrus Medical Group President Greg Allen.
Extended Service
Starting Oct 26th the department will offer extended hours of availability as a greater convenience to travelers. A credentialing specialist will be available after-hours to work hand-in-hand with evening shift recruiters. The move is part of Cirrus Medical Group’s overall strategy to move travelers into new assignments more quickly.
In addition, seasoned Cirrus Allied Credentialing Specialist Keisha Hamilton will join the department’s Charlotte office, adding to the team’s already diverse background in credentialing services.
“Offering our travelers after-hours credentialing service and relocating Hamilton to our Charlotte operations has the benefits of rewarding both our travelers and our employees with greater flexibility and efficiency. It’s just one of the many ways we’re working to streamline operations,” said Leavitt.
The credentialing department serviced more than 300 individual traveling nurses and allied health professionals in 2008. Cirrus Medical Group aims to raise that figure higher in 2009.
ATTENTION TRAVELERS: We want to know…”What are your credentialing do’s and don’ts?”
