The Secret Superpower of Fusion: Credentialing

How We Reduce Administrative Costs of Staffing for Our Clients

When hospitals and health systems partner with a staffing firm, they expect access to qualified providers. What they don't always see—but feel even before the provider sets foot in a facility—is the operational lift required to get those providers credentialed, cleared, and on-site.
At Fusion Healthcare Staffing, compliance support is an important part of the overall value we bring to clients who engage us to support their locum tenens needs. It's a quiet superpower that reduces administrative burden for our clients, shortens time to start, and removes friction from an already complex process.
We sat down with Naomi Ward, Head of Credentialing at Fusion, to understand how her team approaches credentialing, and why clients experience a smoother, faster path from placement confirmation to coverage.

Proactive Provider Screening

Fusion takes a proactive approach by assessing provider risk before a provider is ever presented to a facility.
Prior to submitting a candidate to a client, recruiters at Fusion are trained to evaluate key risk indicators, including:

• License history
• Malpractice claims
• National Practitioner Data Bank review

Providers who don't meet Fusion's standards are eliminated from the process early, reducing the likelihood of late-stage credentialing failures for clients.

Faster Starts Through Immediate Credentialing Action

Once a match is confirmed, our team begins sharing documentation with our clients in a structured way so that their review can start as soon as possible.
This parallel approach prevents unnecessary delays and keeps momentum moving—especially critical when facilities need coverage urgently.

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“ Speed and accuracy both matter when coverage is on the line. ”
— Naomi Ward, Head of Credentialing

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Expertise—Not a One-Size-Fits-All Model

Every facility credentials differently, and Fusion is built for flexibility.
Credentialing specialists are assigned by specialty, allowing them to:

• Understand nuances and preferences
• Anticipate documentation needs
• Ask smarter, more targeted questions

This familiarity reduces redundant back-and-forth and speeds up resolution when questions arise.

A Single Point of Contact (and Fewer Emails for You)

Each assignment is owned by one credentialing specialist from start to finish.
Behind the scenes, internal teams support the process, but clients and facilities work with one consistent point of contact who knows the file inside and out.

Proactive Follow-Up That Actually Moves the File Forward

Fusion doesn't believe in vague "just checking in" emails. Credentialing specialists are trained to ask specific, actionable questions:

• What items are still outstanding?
• Have peer references been received?
• Are there upcoming deadlines we should be working toward?

This approach produces clearer responses, faster decisions, and fewer stalled applications.

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“ Our job is to remove as much friction as possible—starting early, asking better questions, and never holding up a process if we don't have to. ”
— Naomi Ward, Head of Credentialing

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Reducing Time to Start—With Real Results

Over the past two years, Fusion has invested in reducing the time from confirmation of assignment to approval-to-start. We have worked hard to achieve an industry-leading credentialing timeline.
Fusion has reduced the time-to-start by 17% in just one year. These improvements were driven by a multi-faceted approach, including technology investment, credentialer training, and process optimizations. For our clients, it means a smoother, more efficient process from confirmation to cleared.

A Pre-Assignment Checklist That Leaves Nothing to Chance

Before any provider starts, Fusion completes a pre-assignment checklist covering:

• Credentialing status
• Contracts and confirmation letters
• Travel arrangements
• First-day information
• Internal compliance approvals

Assignments don't move to "active" until every box is checked off, ensuring a confident start for both provider and facility.

Compliance as a Client Experience Function

Perhaps the biggest differentiator is philosophical. Fusion's credentialing team doesn't view itself as a gatekeeper—rather, it sees itself as an extension of the client's operations team. The goal isn't just to be accurate; it's to be responsive, proactive, and easy to work with. That mindset is what turns credentialing into a competitive advantage.

Naomi Ward, Credentialing and Travel Manager, has been leading the Fusion credentialing team for 12 years. She is a Certified Credentialing Specialist (CPCS), and is currently earning her CPCSM. She manages a team of seven with a combined total of 36 years of experience in credentialing. Ward leads her team with the mentality that more brains are smarter than one, making collaboration a main focus of the credentialing team.