The Medical Staff Services department is the hospital's first line in ensuring patient safety and high quality care because the department is responsible for the credentialing and re-credentialing of practitioners. These practioners include doctors, nurse practitioners, CRNAs and CNMs. Credentialing is the process of assessing the candidate who wants to practice medicine and be on our medical staff. This includes verification of their credentials like their identity, education, residency and fellowship training, licenses to practice their occupations in the state and investigation of any malpractice claims against them. Our goal is to ensure that all UPMC providers are highly qualified and competent to provide the best patient care.
The Medical Staff Services department is also responsible for facilitation/monitoring of the privileging process. After credentialing, the person applies for the ability (privilege) to treat certain specific conditions or perform specific procedures. The medical staff process of determining the competency to treat or perform the requested activities is called privileging. This must be done at each individual institution since it requires close monitoring. The applicants must show they have the training, education, experience and current competence for the requested privileges.
The MSS department is also the home of peer review which is facilitated by our Quality Insurance Nurses. Medical peer review is the process by which a committee of physicians examines the work of a peer and determines whether the physician under review has met accepted standards of care in rendering medical services. It constitutes a form of self-regulation by the medical staff. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards of quality, improve performance and provide credibility.
Rebecca Howard, Credentialing Supervisor
Shelby Milliron-Fry, Administrative Assistant
1001 E. 2nd Street
Coudersport, PA 16915
tel:814-274-9301 Ext. 6105
Fax: 814-274-5302
Email: howardrj@upmc.edu
millironsl@upmc.edu
Michelle Bowers, Medical Staff Credentialing Coordinator
32-36 Central Avenue,1st floor
Wellsboro, PA 16901
tel:570-723-0104
Fax: 570-23-0118
Email: bowersm4@upmc.edu
Susan Browning, Director of Medical Staff Services
700 High Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
tel:570-321-2174
Fax: 570-321-2133
Email: browningsl@upmc.edu
