America's credentialing crisis: a review of its origins and attempts at solutions

Physicians and their office staffs need no introduction to the concept of practitioner credentialing. They know all too well the inefficiencies, redundancies, and frustrations that typically accompany the process. They may not be as well informed, however, about the origins of the current credentialing crisis and its far-reaching effects on health care. This article supplies a context for understanding the origin and evolution of the crisis and examines the differing approaches health care organizations and state governments are taking to address it. It also provides a look at how one state and its health care community are attempting to create a homegrown, collaborative solution.