Synergy - September/October 2013 - 24

namss focus

Once	a	software	vendor	has	successfully	
tested	and	implemented	the	ECP	
connection,	it	receives	the	official	NAMSS	
PASS	ECP-Certified	designation.	This	
will	permit	the	vendor	to	include	the	
ECP	logo	in	its	marketing	materials	and	
websites.	This	certification	will	show	
clients	and	MSPs	that	the	company	is	
committed	to	maximizing	the	use	of	
technology	to	improve	quality	and	reduce	
costs	associated	with	credentialing	and	
verification.	Vendors	will	be	able	to	offer	
ECP	capabilities	to	their	customers	as	
upgrades	to	their	credentialing	software.
Automated	reporting	will	enable	hospitals	
to	maintain	accurate,	timely	data	on	
the	NAMSS	PASS	site	without	having	to	
manually	upload	files.	
With	increasing	participation	in	NAMSS	
PASS,	credentialers	are	able	to	obtain	
a	verification	of	hospital	affiliations	and	
check	for	unreported	affiliation	data	in	
a	gap	analysis	report,	and	obtain	instant	
verifications	through	the	verification	letter	

feature.	Getting	accurate,	comprehensive	
affiliation	data	on	demand	will	become	
easier	as	more	vendors	provide	this	
enhancement	to	their	programs	and	
their	customers.
MSPs	should	contact	their	credentialing	
software	vendor	to	find	out	when	this	
enhancement	will	be	available.	Until	then,	
the	manual	process	is	well-explained	on	the	
NAMSS	PASS	site,	and	support	is	available	
from	the	team	to	help	hospitals	take	
advantage	of	this	enhanced	service.	
The	biggest	challenge	going	forward	is	
getting	hospitals	to	realize	the	value	of	
using	NAMSS	PASS,	and	making	this	a	truly	
comprehensive	database.	It	is	important	that	
the	MSP	community	supports	this	voluntary	
initiative	by	becoming	contributing	entities	
themselves	and	then	promoting	the	
benefits	of	this	information-sharing	source	
to	their	peers,	locally	and	nationally.	The	
benefits	of	improved	patient	care	quality,	
reduction	of	negligent	credentialing	
risks,	and	major	improvement	in	MSP	

productivity	will	be	the	driving	forces	
behind	this	community	initiative.
A	majority	of	the	largest	hospitals	in	
Wisconsin	participated	in	the	service,	
providing	their	data	to	the	repository.	
Most	of	the	hospitals	in	the	area	already	
provided	data	through	their	own	websites,	
but	the	value	of	a	centralized	repository	
was	quickly	realized	through	increased	
efficiency	in	verifying	affiliations,	as	well	as	
relieving	them	of	having	to	maintain	their	
own	sites.	Many	Wisconsin	hospitals	have	
automated	the	downloads	to	be	performed	
on	a	weekly	basis	in	the	background,	
requiring	no	manual	file	creation	or	
submission	process.	
This	is	an	idea	for	our	time.	There	has	
been	automation	for	licensing,	DEAs,	
board	certifications,	education	and	now	
affiliation	letters.	The	ability	to	review	a	
practitioner’s	reported	history	along	with	
instant	verification	letters	make	the	decision	
to	participate	in	NAMSS	PASS	an	easy	one	
to	make.	■

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SYNERGY September/OctO ber 2013
http://www.namss.org/NAMSSPASS/tabid/425/Default.aspx http://www.hcpro.com/ http://www.hcpro.com/
Synergy - September/October 2013

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