Credentialing

Credentialing is the formal process of checking that medical practitioners and dentists are appropriately qualified, registered and experienced to deliver safe, high-quality care.

All senior medical practitioners and dentists in Victoria’s public health services (including Ambulance Victoria) must comply with Safer Care Victoria’s Credentialing policy. This policy helps your patients trust they are receiving the best possible care.

Download the Credentialing and scope of clinical practice for senior medical practitioners policy

Updated policy released July 2018

In response to recommendations from an independent review and extensive industry consultation, changes to the policy:

• clarify requirements for annual credential and medical indemnity insurance checks
• expand the appeals process
• define the duration of temporary credentialing
• shorten the time period for formal re-credentialing, from five years to three.

Your obligations under the policy

Senior medical practitioners and dentists

If you practice at a public hospital, this policy sets out your obligations to disclose personal, legal or professional impediments or conditions, and maintain professional standards in your area of practice.

Public hospitals

This policy sets out your obligations to ensure the medical and dental practitioners you appoint and retain are qualified, competent, fit and operating within their scope of clinical practice.

Please ensure your Board, Director of Medical Services and members of your credentialing and scope of clinical practice committee (or equivalent) are all aware of their specific obligations under this policy.

We encourage you to involve consumers in your credentialing and scope of clinical practice committee. Contact us to discuss how we can support you in this.

Private hospitals

We’ve modified this policy for private hospitals and we encourage you to make all new appointments in accordance with this policy.

We recommend you implement this policy at the end of each practitioner's current credentialing period, so that within five years all practitioners will be on the new three-year cycle.