Hi, my name is Keisha Hamilton and I am the Credentialing Coordinator.  I joined MDI in January 2008 as the Branch Administrator and moved into my current position in August 2008.  I am responsible for helping travelers get licensed as well fully credentialed before their assignment start date.  I will use this blog to write about the many facets of the credentialing process, in hopes of making it easier for you!

Dear Allied Travelers,

As you may know, Joint Commission certification helps us to get on exclusive vendor lists that other staffing companies can’t. This means better assignments and more choices for you!

The Joint Commission now requires annual competency testing and Continuing Education Unit tracking. To maintain our Joint Commission certification, we need your help.

If you have not submitted your CEU or competency test yet, please contact us ASAP at 866-518-1750 ext 2303 to receive the forms and test. If you return both documents by Friday Oct. 31, your name will be entered into a drawing for $100 VISA gift card.


Thank you for your assistance!

Keisha Hamilton
Credentialing Coordinator
866-518-1750 ext. 2303

The NPI is 10-digit numeric identification number for covered health care providers. It is a number unique to each health care provider. All health care providers who bill for services are required to have an NPI. Most facilities that employ Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists are now requiring them to have an NPI number. Getting an NPI is easy and free, and it does not carry information about the therapists such as residence or medical specialty.

For instructions on how to apply for you NPI number visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.instructions

If you have any other questions please feel free to call me at our new number 866-518-1750 or you can contact me direct at 678-993-2303.

Enjoy your weekend!

Keisha Hamilton
Credentialing Coordinator

The NBCOT (National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy) is an agency that credentials and certifies Occupational Therapists and Assistants. Individuals in the Occupational Therapy profession are expected to maintain their NBCOT certification throughout their career. Unfortunately, a few therapists are under the impression that once they have received their initial NBCOT certification it no longer has to be renewed. A renewal notice is mailed to you prior to expiration, and if you have moved you can call the board to find out your expiration date. Also keep in mind that in-order to renew your certification, 36 hours of PDU must be accrued within 3 years from the date you intend to renew.

For more information on the NBCOT renewal process you can visit the website at www.nbcot.org.

Enjoy your weekend!

Keisha Hamilton
Credentialing Coordinator

Every traveling therapist must undergo a background test before starting a travel assignment. Some facilities require one to be completed every year, some prefer checks within the last 30-60 days before an assignment start date. If you're a travel Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech Language Pathologist, and you know that there is some form of a blemish on your criminal background, it is best to tell the recruiter upfront instead of waiting until the report is completed.

Although MDI Medical understands that mistakes have been made by therapists, informing the recruiter upfront will prevent surprises and delays in start times.

If you have any questions about the background check process feel free to call (888-416-7949 ext. 2367) or e-mail me at khamilton@mdimedical.com.

Travel Safe!

Just an FYI for Occupational therapists. Your NBCOT certificate expires and has to be renewed before the expiration date stated on the certificate.  If you are a licensed therapist in one state and would like to be licensed in other states, you will need to have an updated NBCOT to get licensed. 

Most states require your NBCOT to be verified as a part of the license application process.  Also, if you would like to practice in a state such as Colorado that does not require licensing, you have to have an updated NBCOT. 

If you have any other questions regarding getting licensed you can call 770-416-2367 or email khamilton@mdimedical.com

Good Luck!

Hello Therapists,

Our updated pre-application is now here!  You can now open up the word attachment from our website, fill out the forms and e-mail your pre-app back to us.  Hopefully this will eliminate having to find a fax machine to fax back your application, skills checklist and consent and release form.  The sooner you get these back to us, the quicker we can process your credentialing for your start date.

Included in the pre-application package is also our updated Skills Checklist for Speech Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists. 

As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me at 770-416-2367 or email me at khamilton@mdimedical.com

Have a great long weekend!

I know that unfortunately some of our travel therapists have ran into the issue of fingerprinting. You have been placed on an assignment, you're start date is in a week, and then you find out that you need to be fingerprinted. I know, I know...just another thing to do right?

Fingerprinting is a requirement by facilities in some states for travel therapy jobs. There are a few hospitals in states such as OH and PA that require fingerprinting. There are also Skilled Nursing Facilities in the following states that require fingerprinting: AZ, DE, FL, MO, NV, NM, OH, PA, SC, WA, WV, WI, PA and NC.

To help the process, what you as a travel therapist can do is talk to your recruiter about the states you're looking for therapist jobs and find out what some of their requirements are. This can help to alleviate some of the last minute running around that we encounter. What we at MDI Medical are committed to doing is communicating with each other to ensure that our therapists are made aware of all the credentialing requirements before it's too late.

Credentialing thanks you for your cooperation!

Some things I have learned this week that will help you in your travel therapy jobs:

Be sure to read your candidate confirmation!  We want to make sure that your compensation, dates requested off and benefit decisions are all correctly stated on your confirmation.  It is also noted on your confirmation that unless you have signed a confirmation extending or starting at a new facility, your last paycheck will be mailed to you.

Be sure to get us your signed candidate confirmation and signed consent form the day you are confirmed to you assignment.  We need your signed consent form in order to start your background check.  Since I have started, a new traveler has not been able to start on time due to a pending background check.  Don't let this halt your rehab jobs!

There is no time like the present to start looking for your medical records.  If you are new to travel therapy jobs or starting with a new company you will need documentation of an annual TB test, annual physical, and MMR records (at the very least).  You may have to contact an old job, company, school, or doctor to obtain these records.  It is best to start this now!

I look forward to working with you in your rehab travel jobs soon!

Hello Travelers,

As some of you may already know Katie Ithier our Credentialing Coordinator will be leaving and I have moved into that position. Who am I? Well, my name is Keisha Hamilton and I started with MDI Medical in January of this year as the Divison Administrator. I graduated from Western Kentucky University in May 2002, and have lived in atlanta for 6 years. 

I am excited about my new role and look forward to the opportunity to work with our therapists on a regular basis.

If you have any questions about the credentialing process or licensing of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists or SLP's please feel free to give me a call or send me an email.

I can be reached at 888-416-7949 ext. 2367 or at khamilton@mdimedical.com.

Safe Travels!

Keisha

When you want to start your travel therapy career ASAP it might help to know which states do not require licensure.  The following is a list of the states and modalities for which licensure is not required. 

Sorry to my Physical Therapists out there...you must be licensed in all states to work :)

Occupational Therapists:
Colorado

Physical Therapy Assistants:
Colorado
Michigan
Utah
Hawaii

Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Colorado
Hawaii
Virginia

Speech-Language Pathology:
Washington, DC
Colorado
Michigan
South Dakota

Have you heard the exciting news????  MDI Medical is now giving you $100 when you list three colleagues' names and phone numbers on your pre-application.  We only work with the best Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, and Speech-Language Pathologists and we can verify you are the best when we speak with others in travel therapy jobs.  You can find our pre-application at http://www.mdimedical.com/resources/ and fax it in to us at 866-600-4001.  We look forward to sending you that $100 soon!

I have some exciting news!!  I have decided to move to Nashville, TN in September (and no- I do not want to be a singer!).  While this means I will be leaving MDI Medical - we have found an awesome person to handle credentialing!! 

I have been training my very talented replacement Keisha Hamilton the past two weeks.  Keisha has been with MDI Medical since January so she already knows the business and has already worked with a number of you guys.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will be able to answer all of your credentialing and licensing questions going forward.

Keisha will be taking over my blog.  Leave her any comments you have!

I wish you all good luck in your travel therapy jobs!

Like most employers, MDI Medical checks references prior to employment... and we always hope to receive wonderful references on of all therapists!

Lately we have been running into a problem.  We call references provided by our therapists but the person either doesn't answer, doesn't call us back, or the wrong number is given. 

If you are planning to start travel therapy jobs with MDI Medical double check your references.  Make sure to provide us with the correct phone number and e-mail address (e-mail addresses are great as it lets the person complete the reference on their own time).  Always make sure to give your reference a heads-up that we will be calling.  This way they won't be surprised by our call or hesitate to return it.

It always stinks when we have to delay a new traveler's start date because we can't get their reference on the phone!

As you all may know (or have figured out) not only do I handle credentialing but I also help with the licensing application process.

One of our traveling Occupational Therapists let his New Mexico license lapse a few years ago and now wants to go back to work in NM.  He wanted me to find out the quickest, cheapest, easiest way of going about reinstatement.

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Oliver the New Mexico Occupational Therapy Board administrator.  He was very helpful and very knowledgeable!  He was able to give me some insider scoop (I promise he told me that the New Mexico Occupational Therapy board is very liberal when it comes to CEUs).  Thanks for your time Steve!

When you are considering travel therapy jobs in a new state (or state you used to work in) don't discount contacting the board administrator.  They are there to help you- and are great at their job!  You never know what kind of assistance or advice they can give you.

Happy Friday to all of MDI Medical's personnel in travel therapy jobs!

I recently got a videocamera so I am going to try to post some video blogs.  What would you all like to see????

Below is my first go at it- so go easy on me!  I hope you all enjoy it!
Check out my video blog.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think and also what else you want to see!

Have a great weekend!

I know I have mentioned this a time or two...but I wish my job afforded me the opportunity to travel like our travel therapy jobs afford you guys!  Really- I am so jealous!  There are so many places in the US that are on my list to visit!

I just read an article from Healthcare Traveler magazine that profiles a few travelers (they are not all in allied health jobs) and their daytrips while in various cities.  I have posted it below.  I hope you all enjoy it and who knows...maybe it will inspire you to explore your city!

http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine.com/healthcaretraveler/Healthcare+Traveler+Lifestyles/My-unforgettable-travel-nursing-assignment-in-Cali/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/525945?contextCategoryId=45130

I just had a conversation with a traveler about how her physical therapy licensure process is coming for California.  CA is a difficult state and the process is sooooo slowwwwwww!

She is currently on her first assignment with us and was hoping to go to CA next.  She kept telling me (and her recruiter and her account manager) that the CA physical therapy board is only missing one document.  We have been looking for travel physical therapy jobs in the area she wants and I have been checking the CA website daily to see if her license was issued.  I came to find out today that she has not submitted the application, had her boards sent in, etc, etc, etc.

Maybe I was asking better questions this time.  Maybe she was giving answers that were a little more clear.  Either way- I'm not sure.  We were trying to get her to CA next month, but because she is not as far in the process as she originally told us it will probably be another few months before she is licensed.

We want to get you to the states you want to be in but we need to know that you are doing your part too- if you need help or have questions just ask!

When you are looking to work in a new state - and need to obtain a license first- be as upfront with where you are in the process as possible.  This helps us accurately guage your potential start date.

A state I don't hear much about is Delaware.  Below is information on obtaining licensure there...maybe you can take a travel therapy jobs there and fill me in on the state :)

You must submit the following to the Occupational Therapy board:

¨      Notarized application & fee

¨      NBCOT scores sent directly to DE board

¨      Transcripts sent directly to DE board

 ****** Important note: the Occupational Therapy board must review ALL applications at monthly meetings.  The meetings take place the first Wednesday of every month (they do NOT meet in August or December)*****

A link to the application: http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/occupationaltherapy/documents/Occupational_Therapy_Application.pdf

 A link to the board’s website is: http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/occupationaltherapy/index.shtml

I am heading to Nashville this afternoon for the 4th of July!  I am looking forward to visiting (Nashville is one of my favorite cities!) - there is a lot going on this weekend!  There is a hot chicken festival and tons of places to see fireworks!  Not to mention all the live country music (my favorite)!!!

For those of you in our travel therapy jobs you can always google 4th of July events in your area or visit the chamber of commerce's website to see what type of events are in your area or within driving distance.  I hope that you all have a great weekend and return to your rehab jobs rejuvenated on Monday!