FAQs about Physician Credentialing

Q: Who can help me with this process?

A: ESP employs full time Credentialing Coordinators. Their job is to make sure each ESP physician stays on course to complete their hospital credentialing paperwork as quickly as possible. For more information call us at 888-800-8237. This very important service is provided to ESP affiliated physicians only.

Q: What will the credentialing process require?

A: We will send you a list of all documents and paperwork we will need. This includes a copy of your drivers license, medical diploma, internship and residency diplomas, a passport-sized photo, a current CV, your medical license from all states in which you have worked, your Texas Controlled Substance Permit (DPS), your federal DEA permit, your board certificate, your ACLS, ATLS, and PALS or BLS certificates and your NPI number and confirmation letter. Your Credentialing Coordinator will send this checklist to you with your applications.

Q: How long will my credentialing take?

A: The credentialing process can be a long one. Hospitals require extensive proof of work history, references, hospital affiliations and medical schools to ensure the quality of their doctors.

Let our coordinator give you an estimate of how long the process will take.

Once you have your state license hospital credentialing takes 60 to 90 days. However, your state license may take as long as six months to acquire, and some hospitals require you to have your state license to even be considered for a position. Please be patient and thorough with your paperwork to expedite the process.

Q: What can I expect in the process?

A: After an offer is made, and your Credentialing Coordinator receives your file, you will be sent a pre-populated Texas Standardized Credentialing Application and the hospital credentialing packet along with a return envelope. All forms will be flagged and highlighted for your convenience. You need to return your packet within two weeks to stay on track for your credentialing process to proceed smoothly.

When we receive the packet back in our office, we will review it for accuracy and completeness and forward it on to the hospital. The hospital will conduct primary source verifications for your education, previous work history, past and current hospital affiliations, and peer references.

After the background check has been concluded, your file goes before the credentials committee and finally to the board of the hospital which gives final approval of privileges. These boards sometimes meet only every 3 months, so it is imperative to return paperwork in a timely manner.

Please note that each hospital's credentialing process is different, and more documentation or less work may be required of you depending on the facility you have selected.

Q: What is the difference between work history and hospital affiliation?

A: Work history refers to the group that employed you, while hospital affiliation is the facility at which you practiced. If, say, you work for the ED in Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in New Braunfels, then your work history is Emergency Service Partners and your hospital affiliation is Christus.

Q: Why did I receive paperwork from a billing company?

A: In addition to the hospital packet, you will receive a financial credentialing packet from EPBS (the billing company for Brackenridge Hospital) or TERM Billing (the billing company for all other sites). The billing office will submit the paperwork necessary to assign Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield numbers that will be needed to bill patients and receive reimbursements.