Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

Physicians who fully engage in the orientation and onboarding objectives will find it easier to transition into a fully functional practice. It takes confidence to ask questions and now is the time to ask so be confident if you need guidance or ANY additional training! – Cynthia Forsyth/Healthcare Chief Strategy Officer/Serving the Greater Iowa Region F I E L D N O T E S R E A D : Licensing and Credentialing Upon signing your contract, if you have not already obtained it, immediately submit your application for a state license. This process could take up to six months to complete! There might even be prerequisites such as continuing medical education (CME) courses you will need to take before they will even consider your application. If you are going to practice in a state different from where you trained, do some homework on how long licensure typically takes for that state. Good resources are physicians recently licensed in that state, the credentialing department of your new employer, or the administrator/business manager for the practice you are joining. If they offer assistance, take it! They have done this dozens of times andwill guide you through the process. If you are applying on your own, start early, be organized, and take the time to fill out any forms efficiently and accurately. Also, if you haven’t done it already, you need to register with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). If you already have done this, you can just submit a change of address after you move. Even though you cannot acquire hospital privileges until you have a state license, submit your credentialing to the hospital immediately after submitting your application for your license. It’s a long process and both organizations can work simultaneously. Whenapplyingforprivileges, review the application and your contract to see if there are any special procedures you will be requesting. Some health systems require physicians to obtain and maintain certification for procedures such as conscious sedation, CITI training for research, etc. Research those ahead of time so you will know what the time line (and potential cost may be) for completion. Peer references are often a big hold up in the credentialing process, so consider asking your attendings if they are willing to provide a reference well in advance of when you need it. Also, be sure to provide themwith a copy of your CV. This allows SECTION III: T MINUS ONE YEAR CAREER AND LIFE PLANNING GUIDEBOOK FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS 334