Determining and certifying as to the competency of a physician or other professional at some time after the initial determination of his or her qualification for licensure or hospital privileges. Recredentialing is required at periodic intervals in some hospitals and health care organizations. It is also under consideration by several states as a procedure to be followed at the time of renewal of licenses (most states simply require payment of a fee). As being discussed with regard to renewal of license, “recredentialing” does not rely on evidence of meeting continuing education requirements or written examination as to knowledge. The focus is on the physician’s actual performance. Under consideration are computer based “clinical” testing and the use of hospital quality review records. In the case of physicians whose practice is entirely in their offices, an office audit system (now used in Canada) is under consideration.
The process whereby an individual certified in a profession completes the current requirements for certification in that profession.