​WHY SPEED AND COMPLIANCE MUST WORK TOGETHER
Healthcare staffing is often discussed in terms of supply and demand. Facilities need qualified providers, and staffing partners work to meet that need as quickly as possible. But one of the most significant barriers to timely care is rarely part of the conversation: credentialing.
Credentialing is not just an administrative step. It is a critical process that ensures providers are properly licensed, qualified, and compliant with all regulatory and facility requirements before delivering care. When done correctly, it protects patients, supports compliance, and maintains the integrity of healthcare systems. When delayed or fragmented, it can slow deployment, disrupt operations, and limit access to care.
As healthcare systems face increasing demand, the pressure to onboard providers quickly has intensified. However, speed without structure creates risk. Incomplete documentation, inconsistent processes, and lack of coordination across stakeholders can lead to delays, errors, and compliance challenges that ultimately impact both providers and patients.
At Millbrook Support Services, we view credentialing as a core component of healthcare operations, not a secondary task. It requires coordination, visibility, and accountability across every stage of the process. From primary source verification to privileging and onboarding, each step must be managed with precision to ensure providers are ready to deliver care without unnecessary delays.
This is especially important in government and large scale healthcare programs, where requirements are often more complex and timelines are critical. Within systems like the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), credentialing processes can vary significantly by facility and region. For example, each IHS Area Office operates with its own approach to onboarding, credentialing, and privileging providers. Some offices work directly with providers throughout the process, while others rely more heavily on staffing partners to help guide and manage each step.
Historically, timelines within IHS can be longer than in the VA due to these decentralized processes and additional layers of coordination. Navigating these nuances requires experience, consistency, and proactive communication. At Millbrook, we understand these intricacies in depth and set clear expectations with providers from day one. By establishing realistic timelines and outlining each step early in the process, we help ensure alignment across all stakeholders and reduce uncertainty as providers move toward deployment.
Our role extends beyond coordination. We work closely with both IHS and VA facilities to help facilitate every aspect of credentialing and onboarding. Whether addressing affiliation verification challenges, resolving reference delays, or managing documentation gaps, our team remains actively engaged to keep the process moving forward. This hands-on approach helps prevent avoidable bottlenecks and supports a smoother path to getting providers on the floor.
Effective credentialing depends on more than documentation. It requires systems that streamline communication, track progress in real time, and identify potential bottlenecks before they impact deployment. It also requires accessibility and responsiveness. We pride ourselves on being available to our clients and providers around the clock, ensuring that questions are answered and issues are addressed without delay.
The impact of getting this right is significant. Faster, more reliable credentialing allows providers to begin work sooner, supports continuity of care, and helps facilities operate at full capacity. It also improves the provider experience, creating a more seamless transition into new roles and reducing administrative burden.
At its core, this work is collaborative. We share the same goals as the facilities and agencies we support: ensuring that patients receive the care they need, when they need it. When providers, facilities, and staffing partners are aligned and working together, the credentialing process becomes not just more efficient, but more effective.
As healthcare continues to evolve, the ability to balance speed and compliance will define success in staffing and operations. Credentialing sits at the center of that balance. By treating it as a strategic function rather than a back office process, healthcare organizations can remove one of the most common barriers to care delivery.
“Credentialing is one of the most important, and often underestimated, components of healthcare staffing,” says James L. Paterek, CEO of Millbrook Support Services. “When it is managed with discipline and precision, it enables providers to step into their roles faster and ensures healthcare systems can operate without disruption.”
At Millbrook, we are committed to building credentialing processes that are efficient, compliant, and fully integrated into the broader healthcare delivery system.
Millbrook, ensuring providers are ready to deliver care when and where they are needed most.
​​​About the Author
James L. Paterek is the Chief Executive Officer of Millbrook Support Services, a nationwide healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company with offices throughout the U.S. Millbrook, a Joint Commission–certified and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), supplies physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals to government, education, corrections, and commercial clients across North America. Millbrook is also a GSA-Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) 621 I contract holder for Professional & Allied Healthcare Staffing Services, with coverage across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
