Credentialing & Privileging | 06.11.24
Become a Wellbeing First Champion
By J. Corey Feist, J.D., MBA
Our health workers are experiencing a mental health crisis. Nearly half of health workers experienced burnout in 2022; and health workers reported higher levels of poor mental health days, burnout, intent to change jobs, and being harassed compared to all other type of workers.
Like everyone, health workers deserve the right to pursue mental health care without fear of losing their job.
However, institutional practices have subjected health workers to overly invasive questions about their mental health in licensing, credentialing, and insurance applications. In fact, The Physicians Foundation 2023 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians found four in 10 physicians were afraid to seek mental health care — or knew another physician who was reluctant to do so — due to the questions on these types of applications.
Such questioning tends to be broad or stigmatizing, such as asking about past mental health care and treatment and has no bearing on a health worker’s ability to practice medicine. Health workers should not have to forsake their own mental health and well-being to care for others.
Mental health questions were often added to licensing and credentialing applications out of a misplaced desire to protect the public from health workers who might not be fit to give care. Yet there is no evidence that these questions serve that function. On the contrary, when health workers’ mental health suffers, the quality of care they deliver suffers. Research indicates medical errors can result from health workers experiencing burnout and mental health conditions.
Fortunately, a number of national leaders have taken a stand, suggesting that systematic change is attainable, including the National Association Medical Staff Services. The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the Joint Commission, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance also all recommend against these overly invasive mental health questions.
As of April 1, 2024, 19 health systems have audited and changed the intrusive language from their credentialing applications — benefiting more than 191,500 health workers. Additionally, 27 state medical boards audited and changed their licensure applications — benefiting more than 700,000 physicians.
NAMSS members, like yourself, can now be part of this community committed to health workers’ well-being. Auditing and updating credentialing applications removes barriers to care, and communicating about this change as a nationally recognized Wellbeing First Champion sends a clear message to your healthcare workforce that your organization supports their mental health and well-being.
To be recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion during the NAMSS 48th Educational Conference, use our free Credentialing Toolkit for Hospitals and Health Systems to:
- Audit all credentialing applications, addendums, and peer review forms.
- Change any invasive or stigmatizing language around mental health.
- Submit your initial applications, renewal application, and peer reference forms to verify they are free from intrusive questions by July 1.
Once we verify your applications, you will be recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion at the conference and be provided a toolkit to communicate these changes to your workforce and assure them it is safe for them to seek care.
Need help updating your applications? Bring your applications and join us on Monday, June 17, at 1 p.m. ET at the NAMSS Ideal Credentialing Standards Technical Assistance Open Forum.
Together, we’re going to remove one of the most substantial system barriers to health workers’ well-being — intrusive mental health questions on credentialing applications.
Content published on Gateway represents the views, thoughts, and opinions of the authors and may not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts, and opinions of the National Association Medical Staff Services.
J. Corey Feist, J.D., MBA
J. Corey Feist, J.D., MBA, is a healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience. He is the CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, and Corey recently served as the CEO of the University of Virginia Physicians Group, the medical group practice of UVA Health composed of 1200+ physicians and advanced practice providers.
Corey has authored numerous publications on the need to support the well-being of the healthcare workforce. He has served as an expert in multiple forums including as a keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator as well as provided formal testimony in the United States Congress. His advocacy efforts resulted in the first federal law focused on improving health workers’ well-being, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. In 2023, Corey and his wife, Jennifer, were both awarded the Surgeon General’s Medallion for Health, the highest honor the U.S. Surgeon General can present to civilians, for their efforts at the Foundation.
Corey holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the UVA Darden School of Business. He is also the past Chair of the Board of the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Corey holds his master’s in business administration from the UVA Darden School of Business, his Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College.