Hiring a new practitioner is a complex process for many healthcare entities. A physician onboarding checklist can help guide this process by clearly outlining the key steps required to onboard a new provider. For a physician or nurse signing on as a new provider, adjusting to a new workplace can also be difficult. A clear onboarding process can make the transition easier for everyone.
Although onboarding processes vary from one organization to another, every provider should have a clear idea of what steps need to be followed; after all, healthcare best practices don’t happen by accident. A checklist can help onboarding go more smoothly, and a streamlined onboarding process benefits the entire practice.
Why You Need a Physician and Nurse Onboarding Guide
A physician onboarding plan isn’t just nice to have, it’s a necessity. Some practices and practitioners may reason that their time is better spent on their area of expertise rather than learning about business processes. However, when onboarding is done right, it can lead to improved outcomes for everyone.
The same holds true for other parts of provider onboarding. Onboarding best practices include creating online portals so new physicians can supply as much documentation as possible prior to their first day of work. In the following Physician Onboarding Plan (which can also serve as a Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) Plan), many elements can easily be uploaded to an online portal, leaving the provider and staff more time to focus on other practical aspects of onboarding.
Benefits of a Successful Onboarding Process
- Retention: A smooth onboarding experience shows new staff you value their comfort and success, building loyalty and improving retention while reducing long-term turnover costs.
- Efficiency: A consistent onboarding workflow helps teams follow the same procedures, allowing new staff to understand day-to-day processes more quickly.
- Collaboration: Early relationship-building during onboarding establishes trust faster—especially when all staff receive the same training and expectations.
- Morale: Prioritizing training and teamwork supports career growth, job satisfaction, and a positive workplace culture.
- Patient satisfaction: When employees feel engaged and aligned, it shows, leading to better teamwork and a more positive patient experience.
A practitioner dissatisfied with the onboarding process is more likely to leave within the first year. This could negatively impact your practice’s culture, patient interaction, communication, and ultimately, your bottom line. Therefore, a credentialing and onboarding plan for all new practitioners can make a significant difference.
Physician Onboarding Checklist and Key Requirements
| Category | Checklist Items |
| Materials |
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| Administration |
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| Marketing |
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| Human Resources |
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| Staff Integration |
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This list is not an exhaustive one. Your credentialing and onboarding healthcare plan may differ according to the needs and services of your practice, the type of practitioner you hire, and individual state laws.
Credentialing and Onboarding for Physicians and Nurses
Credentialing and privileging a new practitioner can take months. For a new physician, credentialing includes obtaining the following documentation:
- State license
- Board qualification/certification status
- Surgical logs
- Documentation of hospital privileges
- 10-year insurance claims report
- Updated curriculum vitae
- ACLS/BLS certification
- DEA certificate
- Immunization records
- School diploma
- Professional reference(s)
- Residency diploma
- Driver’s license
- Social Security card
For Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, documentation is similar, but with some key differences. Credentialing is legally required if the practitioner will be performing direct patient care. It can include:
- State license
- Updated curriculum vitae
- Immunization records
- Diploma and transcripts
- Professional references
- Driver’s license
- Social Security card
- Focused Professional Practice Evaluation
- An Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation
As part of healthcare onboarding best practices, many organizations begin credentialing and privileging months before a new physician or nurse practitioner starts practicing. A well-organized process, combined with a trusted third-party provider like Verisys, can help move credentialing forward more efficiently. Completing required documentation in advance allows delays to be identified and resolved early, leaving more time for the rest of the onboarding process. In the Physician Onboarding Plan below (which can also be used for physician assistants and nurse practitioners), many required elements can be submitted digitally, allowing providers and staff to focus on practical, in-person onboarding needs.
Streamline Physician Onboarding With Verisys
Healthcare onboarding can be a long and complicated process due to regulatory requirements, but it’s a worthwhile investment for your providers, your practice, and your patients. Verisys can save you time and money by making your healthcare onboarding process much more efficient. With our healthcare provider datasets and technology, we can do the work behind the scenes to help you follow best practices in provider credentialing and onboarding. Contact Verisys today to learn how we can expedite these processes for you.
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