Clinician Credentialing Removes Questions About Mental Health and Substance Use History
August 20, 2026 | 1 min. read
Northwestern Medicine has updated portions of clinician credentialing forms and processes to reduce stigma and support the mental health of clinical staff. The change aligns with recommendations from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, the American Medical Association and other leading healthcare organizations.
What you need to know Updated peer reference forms for physicians and advanced practice providers now focus on a clinician’s ability to practice safely, competently and professionally. The forms:
Remove questions about historical mental health or substance use
Focus on whether a current condition adversely affects patient safety or professional practice
The credentialing process previously included questions about past mental health conditions and treatment history, even when no current impairment existed. National organizations have identified these types of questions as barriers that may discourage physicians and APPs from seeking needed mental health care due to fear of professional impacts.
Progress has also occurred at the state level. Following advocacy efforts involving healthcare organizations across Illinois, one of the most stigmatizing credentialing questions was edited to align with best practices.
Why this is important These changes reinforce important messages:
Seeking mental health care is a sign of strength, professionalism and commitment to safe patient care.
NM supports clinicians in seeking care whenever it is needed without concern for repercussions on professional status.
The Office of Well-Being partnered with staff from the Medical Staff Office, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chief of Staff Kelly Maxwell, MD, and Directors of Medical Affairs Charlene Luchsinger and Dorothy Jambrosek, to set this work in motion.
"This collaboration with the Office of Well-Being resulted in substantive updates to our peer reference questions and credentialing processes to further our shared goals of reducing stigma and supporting mental health while maintaining thorough credentialing processes,” says Dr. Maxwell.