Credentialling
The process to verify a clinician’s qualifications and experience in order to provide a particular service.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
Credentialling assigns clinical responsibilities to practitioners based on their qualifications and experience, with the primary goal of ensuring patient safety. It also protects practitioners, promotes accountability, and builds trust in the health system.
Process
Information for surgeons accepted into the current surgical credentialling process for women’s stress incontinence and pelvic surgery procedures, including the use of mesh
Following completion of your Expression of Interest form, there is an assessment and prioritisation process.
View the Prioritisation tool (PDF 271KB)
This prioritisation process is designed to identify the surgeons who will progress to the next stage of the November credentialling round. This group of surgeons will be invited to provide a range of information to support their application. This will be followed by an online meeting with an equity representative and consumer advisor, followed by a face-to-face interview with an international panel of clinical experts. Interviews will be held in Auckland from 7 to 10 November 2024.
Is the Health NZ credentialling process different to the Ministry of Health process?
Health NZ became responsible for the credentialling process in July 2024. To maintain consistency, it is important that the credentialling process adheres to the Ministry of Health’s established procedures to maintain consistency across rounds and candidates. However, to enhance efficiency in the interview process and accommodate a larger number of candidates, some adjustments have been made to the sequence of events and the way in which you complete your paperwork. It is important to note that the evidence requirements remain unchanged.
What’s involved and what’s the timeframe for the process?
We will be in touch with the EOI applicants, by the end of August. At that time, we’ll provide details of what information and evidence needs to be provided for the next stage of the process.
Please note that if you submit incomplete information, you will be advised and given 14 days to provide the remaining information. Extensions will not be given. If you are unable to provide the outstanding information your application will not be progressed for this round and you will be advised.
Flowchart of the process
The flowchart provides a high-level overview of the process.
The flowchart above provides a high-level overview of the process.
Checklist for applications
Here’s a checklist of everything you need to prepare to support your application.
Templates and guidance for surgeons being credentialled
Information to be provided by credentialling candidates includes:
A completed Health NZ self-assessment form
A completed Health NZ self-assessment form
The self-assessment form is available here.
Personal audit (log book) information with self-analysis of what the data shows
Personal audit (log book) information with self-analysis of what the data shows
A sample template is available for your use.
*Note: if you use your own template, it must include all the fields included in this template. This information will include a diary of all relevant procedures you’ve carried out over the past five years.
Complications, complaints, compliments logbook
Complications, complaints, compliments logbook
Please use the template below to record details of all complications, complaints and compliments.
A reflective case study (anonymised)
A reflective case study (anonymised)
Further guidance on what the case study should cover is available with the template for the case study below.
Evidence of cultural safety and informed consent competence
Evidence of cultural safety and informed consent competence
Evidence of continuing professional education
Evidence of continuing professional education
Credentialling final assessment summary document to be used by assessors
Credentialling final assessment summary document to be used by assessors
This document illustrates all the standards you will be assessed against, and what the assessors will be looking for.
Credentialling final assessment summary document (PDF 462KB)
If you have any questions or would like clarification of any part of the process, please email meshcredentialling@cdhb.health.nz and someone will be in touch.
Importantly, please note that no patient names should be included in any of the information you submit. There are no exceptions.
If you submit information with patient identifiable information, it will be deleted and you will be advised to resubmit without identifiable information. Note this counts towards the 14 day deadline to resubmit.
Frequently asked questions about the credentialling process
What is the timeframe for the credentialling process?
What is the timeframe for the credentialling process?
For this current process, the 15 selected surgeons, along with a small group of surgeons on a short list will be advised of the pre-interview discussion process and invited to schedule a date and time for an in person interview. Candidates will have from the date of notification until close of business on 9 of October to submit all the required information. Interviews will take place in Auckland from 7 -10 November.
Who will arrange and pay for my travel, and any accommodation in Auckland?
Who will arrange and pay for my travel, and any accommodation in Auckland?
All candidates are required to cover their own travel related expenses. Those with CME may consider utilising this option.
When will the next round of credentialling be?
When will the next round of credentialling be?
There will be further credentialling rounds held in 2025. Dates will be publicised as soon as possible next year to allow surgeons to complete the initial Expression of Interest document.
Why are there only 15 places for surgeons to be credentialled when the demand is high?
Why are there only 15 places for surgeons to be credentialled when the demand is high?
Fifteen is an increase on previous cohorts. The cost of running the process, including securing international experts and consumers, and the administration of the process is time consuming, with a finite resource managing the process.
The initial prioritisation process is designed to ensure we have a good geographical spread of credentialled surgeons who can provide a range of procedures.
Health NZ used an updated version of the Prioritisation Tool originally developed by Manatu Hauora, the Ministry of Health.
What are the procedures surgeons can apply to be credentialled to perform?
What are the procedures surgeons can apply to be credentialled to perform?
Surgeons can apply for any number of procedures that they regularly perform and have evidence that meets the credentialling criteria.
Procedures have been categorised into three Tiers, based on complexity, as per the table below. This round is only inviting applications for Tier 1 and 2.
How many you apply for is unique to you, for example in the past people have applied to be credentialled to perform a couple of procedures in one Tier only, while others apply to perform most of the procedures in a number of Tiers.
Pelvic mesh revision and removal procedures for each Tier of service provision
|
Service provider |
Generalist secondary services |
Regional services |
National specialist mesh complications service |
|
Tier |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|
Revision or removal of implanted mesh |
Adverse event within six weeks of surgery [1] Acute |
MUS vaginal loosening/division/trimming of ˂ 1 cm (retropubic only) More than six weeks after implantation |
Trans-obturator and retropubic MUS Anterior and posterior vaginal prolapse mesh Sacrocolpopexy mesh Rectopexy mesh |
|
Indications for surgery |
Wound dehiscence, infection, haematoma |
Urinary retention within 14 days of surgery Voiding dysfunction without pain or haematuria Recurrent prolapse or SUI |
Mesh vagina exposure Voiding dysfunction Pelvic or leg pain Mesh within bladder, ureter, urethra, bowel |
|
Multidisciplinary team meeting |
Local or regional or Specialist Mesh Complications Service |
Specialist Mesh Complications Service |
Specialist Mesh Complications Service |
|
Procedures |
Repair of wound dehiscence along suture line Treatment of haematoma and infection Acute non-mesh revision |
Acute loosening of sling for voiding dysfunction Acute division of sling for voiding dysfunction Vaginal division of MUS for obstruction and excision of <1 cm for measurement and histology |
Removal of retropubic MUS (partial (vaginal) or complete), orphan arms Removal of trans-obturator MUS (partial (vaginal) or complete), orphan arms Removal anterior/posterior vaginal prolapse mesh, body and arms, orphan arms Removal sacrocolpopexy vaginal attachment mesh Complete removal rectopexy mesh/bowel repair Mesh removal from bladder, urethra, ureter, bowel Reconstruction following mesh removal Removal of bulking agents |
Can we keep performing women’s pelvic surgery if we’re following the Australian Commission’s Guidelines?
Can we keep performing women’s pelvic surgery if we’re following the Australian Commission’s Guidelines?
You can continue using the Australian Commission’s guideline until there is an announcement by the Ministry of Health to advise otherwise.
Can credentialled surgeons provide these surgical procedures in the public and private health systems?
Can credentialled surgeons provide these surgical procedures in the public and private health systems?
Yes, we expect that many of the surgeons who will be credentialled will work in both the public and private systems. You can read more about it here.
When will I get my result from the credentialling interview?
When will I get my result from the credentialling interview?
We are aiming to have the provisional results out to candidates within four-weeks of their interview.
Information about the appeals process will be uploaded up to this site in the coming weeks.
What does that mean? A glossary of credentialling terms
What does that mean? A glossary of credentialling terms
This glossary explains some of the terms used throughout the credentialling process, including the following: Invigilate, mentor, preceptor, proctor, proctoring.
Updates
20 August 2024
Update for clinicians interested in being credentialled to perform female stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery.
Thanks to those who have expressed an interest in becoming credentialled to perform these important procedures for women.
We’ve received a substantial number of applications for the upcoming credentialing round and have expanded the number of interview slots from previous rounds, to 15.
To maintain consistency with previous rounds hosted by Manatū Hauora | The Ministry of Health, we will use their Prioritisation Tool to help us determine which applicants will be invited to submit their evidence in this round.
In addition to the 15 places available, a small shortlist of candidates will be invited to prepare in the event of any situations where the deadline for evidence submission is not met. In such cases, we will proceed by inviting candidates from this shortlist. Short listed applicants will be informed at the same time as all other candidates.
Further credentialling rounds will be scheduled for 2025, and dates will be finalised at the start of next year.