Credentialing Process

Obtaining credentials to practice at Novant Health:

What providers need to know

At Novant Health Credentialing and Medical Staffing Operations (CMSO), we use a uniform process to verify the credentials of medical professionals applying for privileges at our acute care centers, ambulatory surgery centers, medical clinics and other affiliated facilities. The process enables us to vet medical staff, advanced practice providers and practitioner-support staff in a consistent and thorough way, often in six weeks or less. It also saves providers valuable time by eliminating the need for them to submit and monitor multiple applications.

Your single application will be processed by our central credentialing office and then submitted to the medical staff office at each facility where you want privileges for review and action.

The best way to keep the process moving is for you — the provider — to be proactive. Start by following the instructions below closely and providing the most complete and accurate information you have. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact the CMSO staff.

Step 1: Request an application

You kick off the process by completing the online Novant Health credentialing application request form that corresponds to your needs. The options are:

• Initial Application —This is the first application you will request if you are not currently on the medical staff of a Novant Health facility. Selecting it will bring up a list of qualifications providers must have to work at Novant Health facilities.
• Streamlined Application — You will request this application if you are already on the medical staff at a Novant Health facility and would like to have privileges at additional facilities.
• Practitioner Support Staff — This application is used for any provider who is requesting authorization to assist physicians in practice at a Novant Health facility.

Step 2: Complete your application

Once your application request is approved, CMSO staff will provide you access to an online portal where you, or an approved proxy, can complete and submit your application and required documents.

Step 3: Primary source verification

Once CMSO accepts your application, our staff will begin checking with the medical schools, graduate medical education programs, state medical boards and other professional organizations cited in your application to verify all information you submitted. This detailed primary source verification process must be completed before CMSO will hand off your application to the medical staff offices at individual Novant Health facilities for the final phase of the credentialing process.

On average, CMSO completes the verification process in four to six weeks, but several factors can prolong the process, including:

• being a foreign-born medical school graduate;
• lack of timely response from appropriate peer references;
• malpractice claims history;
• practice as a locum tenens physician; etc.

For first-time applicants only

Step 4: Complete online video training

First-time applicants are asked to complete online video training while CMSO is processing their application. CMSO will receive an electronic notification automatically once you complete the required modules.

Step 5: Complete Dimensions Electronic Health Record and facility-specific training.

Once first-time applicants have satisfied all credentialing requirements and been appointed to staff, they will be required to participate in computer training for the Dimensions electronic health record (EHR) system. Other training may be required by the facilities that grant them privileges. Facility-specific requirements will be provided by the medical staff office at each facility.