According to a Feb. 15 press release, Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI), in partnership with the Consortium for Universal Healthcare Credentialing, Inc. (C4UHC) is advocating for the adoption of ANSI/NEMA SC 1-2020 American National Standard for Supplier Credentialing in Healthcare as an industry best practice.
SMI’s Collaboration Council, co-chaired by Jim Francis, chair of Supply Chain Management at Mayo Clinic, and Susan Louis, vice president of Healthcare at Staples, voted in support of the adoption of ANSI/NEMA SC 1-2020 American National Standard for Supplier Credentialing in HealthCare at the Fall 2023 Forum in Nashville, Tenn. Additionally, SMI supports the use of a verification letter, confirming that a supplier representative has met the national standard sucessfully.
The press release states that “The ANSI NEMA SC-1 2020 standard for supplier credentialing in healthcare sets a rigorous benchmark for hospital supplier credentialing, creating a comprehensive and standardized framework. By adopting this standard, the healthcare industry sends a resounding message that patient safety, efficiency, and compliance are top priorities and that a standardized approach to supplier credentialing is essential.”
Key highlights, according to the press release, of the development include enhanced patient safety. streamlined credentialing process, time savings, improved supplier relationships, national consistency, the verification letter, and improved compliance.
Francis, who is also co-chair of SMI’s Collaboration Council was quoted in the press release, stating, “This is a significant step forward for healthcare supply chain management. The adoption of the ANSI NEMA SC-1 2020 standard will enhance patient safety and quality while reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers and suppliers. We collectively encourage suppliers, vendor credentialing organizations, and hospitals/health systems to begin utilizing the standard and the verification letter. It should satisfy most credentialing needs any organization has, recognizing this is a process that will continue to be refined and improved.”
SMI has the press release.
