Privileges "Withdrawn"

[hellodolly]

Hello all.

 

I've been a practicing PA for over 3 years with the same employer. I recently left that employer and was set to work for an employer in the same system, only to be called by the HR department in that new company a week before I was supposed to start in this position.

 

She told me that they will be withdrawing my privileges (based on a bad reference), as opposed to denying privileges, so that it wouldn't cause me any adverse issues when applying elsewhere.

 

I've never had an adverse events against my license or any other issues.

 

My question is: does this ruin my career going forward? Do I have to put this on every job application?

 

Anybody here familiar with the credentialing process?

[hellodolly]

Found this thread: http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/5398-denied-hospital-privileges/

 

Any thoughts?

[PA-S Zoidberg]

I too would be curious to hear about the outcome of MSloan's battle...

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

Care to extrapolate on the "bad reference"? One would presume a "reference" would provide a positive statement.

[FfIghter23]

You need to figure out who your bad reference was and resolve that issue... Shouldn't effect you going forward unless past junk in the closet... character issue? Work related incident and someone holding a grudge? I've seen people give horrible references all based on someone consistently showing up 10 min late to work. Everyone has a different situation.

[hellodolly]

Care to extrapolate on the "bad reference"? One would presume a "reference" would provide a positive statement.

 

From my current supervisor.

 

In my practice, I had a significant turnover of SPs. I was on good terms with my previous supervisors. I had some bumps in the current one, but I thought we resolved the issues (apparently not).

 

You need to figure out who your bad reference was and resolve that issue... Shouldn't effect you going forward unless past junk in the closet... character issue? Work related incident and someone holding a grudge? I've seen people give horrible references all based on someone consistently showing up 10 min late to work. Everyone has a different situation.

 

To be honest, I'm not sure. There's apparently a file lying around that I don't have access to. There are apparently things written in there about me, but I really haven't been able to get a straight answer as to what all it consists of. I've had "reviews" in the past, but all of this was downplayed. Further, others in my group also had these reviews.

 

After this whole situation played out, I contacted the employer and and he clarified that they were actually "remediation". This term was never used before. My privileges were never taken away and, instead, I was actually given an increased workload.

 

I would think that if I were deemed to have poor character, I would lose my privileges at the first location after this apparent "remediation". I'm sorry. I'm just really angry/upset right now and I'm not really sure where to go from here.

[EMEDPA]

the old job is likely punishing you for leaving...

[Reality Check 2]

You don't have enough information and NOTHING should be withheld from you in regard to your professional integrity or status.

If someone makes a professional statement about you that affects your ability to work - you have a right to know the comments - even if anonymously.

 

You can't possibly defend or promote yourself professionally if you are judged by something you don't know or have access to.

 

If me, I would go straight to top level HR and make a professional, unemotional case that your professional integrity has been questioned and you want to investigate and rectify the situation.

 

Call an employment lawyer if needed. You need to know your rights in your state as an employee.

 

Privileges are ability to do things such as procedures or work with certain types of patients. If you are still employed, then something needs to be addressed.

 

Sounds like someone corporate is hoping you will just go peacefully and not ask questions. Hmmmm, NO - this is YOU and your profession. Take care of it.

 

My very old 2 cents.....

[hellodolly]

the old job is likely punishing you for leaving...

 

I'm not really concerned about the job that I lost because of this (though it has been very inconvenient). I'm more concerned about my ability to obtain employment going forward.

 

Luckily, I have money saved up and I was able to move back in with my parents.

 

But I'm currently unemployed and technically homeless. I was supposed to start the new job on Monday. I had already left the old the job when I was contacted on Friday and told that they were not hiring me.

 

I just found out a few new tidbits just before posting the OP and now I'm scared that this will affect me for the rest of my career.

 

You don't have enough information and NOTHING should be withheld from you in regard to your professional integrity or status.

If someone makes a professional statement about you that affects your ability to work - you have a right to know the comments - even if anonymously.

 

You can't possibly defend or promote yourself professionally if you are judged by something you don't know or have access to.

 

If me, I would go straight to top level HR and make a professional, unemotional case that your professional integrity has been questioned and you want to investigate and rectify the situation.

 

Call an employment lawyer if needed. You need to know your rights in your state as an employee.

 

Privileges are ability to do things such as procedures or work with certain types of patients. If you are still employed, then something needs to be addressed.

 

Sounds like someone corporate is hoping you will just go peacefully and not ask questions. Hmmmm, NO - this is YOU and your profession. Take care of it.

 

My very old 2 cents.....

 

Thanks for the info! Good advice.

 

Unfortunately, their HR department has not been cooperative at all. Also, I was told about the incidents that supposedly caused this issue (these "remediations"), but, to my knowledge, they have been resolved. And, again, I had no adverse effects from them.

 

I have attempted to contact attorneys, but have not heard back (anybody know of a good attorney for these kinds of issues? The one that burnpa mentioned in the previous thread is now retired).

 

At this point, I do have interviews lined up, but I'm nervous that these things will come up somewhere and cause me issues in the future. I'm not sure if I inadvertently lied on previous applications. Also, I'm not sure if my privileges were "denied" or "withdrawn" and I'm not even sure I understand the difference between the two. The HR person at the contracting company for the new employer told me that she looked me up on all credentialing databases and that there is nothing that she can see against my privileges or my license.

 

Sorry guys, I know that there's nothing that really can be done right now. But, as I said, I'm currently unemployed, at home alone (parents are working), and just found out a good portion of the information in the OP. I'm pretty much waiting for the lawyers to return my phone calls and freaking out.

[Gordon, PA-C]

Getting access to your credentialing file is not going to happen.  Hospitals write by-laws that explicitly state that the credentialing files are "privileged and confidential" and therefore the applicant for privileges will not be able to see them.  The best you can do is ask your references if they wrote a bad reference and find out what kind of language they used.

 

For the OP, I dont think this will affect you long term.  Just make sure you never use that reference again.  Withdrawing application for privileges is not reported to the NPDB, nor is it reportable to the state medical board or any future hospitals you apply to.

[hellodolly]

Getting access to your credentialing file is not going to happen.  Hospitals write by-laws that explicitly state that the credentialing files are "privileged and confidential" and therefore the applicant for privileges will not be able to see them.  The best you can do is ask your references if they wrote a bad reference and find out what kind of language they used.

 

For the OP, I dont think this will affect you long term.  Just make sure you never use that reference again.  Withdrawing application for privileges is not reported to the NPDB, nor is it reportable to the state medical board or any future hospitals you apply to.

 

Thanks for the response.

 

I actually did some research over the past day and found this:

 

https://www.bannerhealth.com/NR/rdonlyres/42F62C4B-17FD-4FE4-BD15-331C36975F29/75461/BannerDesertCredentialingManualJan2016.pdf

 

 

Not every facility appears to have the question below, but many do.

 

I'm nervous that it actually is reportable.

 

 

(g) Any pending or completed action involving the withdrawal of an application for or the denialirevocation, suspension, reduction, limitation, probation, non-renewal, or voluntary relinquishment (by resignation or expiration) of: license or certificate to practice in any state or country; DEA or other controlled substances registration; specialty or sub-specialty board certification or eligibility; staff membership status, prerogatives, or clinical privileges at any

hospital, clinic, or health care institution; professional liability insurance coverage.

 

[Bohuntr]

You have every right to sue your previous employer if their recommendation cost you a new job...  They should have known better and are now on the hook big time for the money you would have been made if you were employed through the time you get a new job.

 

Get a lawyer, this is an easy win.  Attorneys should be jumping all over this one

[hellodolly]

You have every right to sue your previous employer if their recommendation cost you a new job...  They should have known better and are now on the hook big time for the money you would have been made if you were employed through the time you get a new job.

 

Get a lawyer, this is an easy win.  Attorneys should be jumping all over this one

 

I talked to a few attorneys (not in my state though....on referral). They seemed unimpressed and basically told me that quality assurance files can be sent between hospitals without my knowledge and that the information in those files are actually protected from me.

 

Also, I was notified of this "withdrawal of privilege" verbally and not in writing. I signed nothing. I don't even know what to think about that.

 

Basically, I have no idea what's going on, what I have to disclose on future job applications, why this even happened, or what exactly is in that file. Is it many complaints that I was never told about? Is it one big complaint? Is someone out to get me? Is it about my clinical skills? Personality? Interactions with coworkers? My workplace was pretty dysfunctional so there really could be anything in there.

 

I have appointments to discuss this issue with multiple lawyers in my area and I have been applying to jobs. But the last few days have certainly been depressing.

[FfIghter23]

I have appointments to discuss this issue with multiple lawyers in my area and I have been applying to jobs. But the last few days have certainly been depressing.

Applying to jobs? With what references? Make contact with all previous references and jobs and figure out what happened. That should be your first order of business. If this is early in your career it shouldn't be all that hard to figure out. Fix it now before it bites you again.

[hellodolly]

Applying to jobs? With what references? Make contact with all previous references and jobs and figure out what happened. That should be your first order of business. If this is early in your career it shouldn't be all that hard to figure out. Fix it now before it bites you again.

 

I have multiple references and I already know which one gave the bad reference.

 

This is early in my career, yes.