Primary Source Verification Process
EICS verification of medical credentials is a structured and careful process. EICS sends a medical credential, such as a medical diploma, to an authorized official of the institution that issued the credential. An official EICS verification form and a full face photograph of the physician, to aid in identification, accompany the credential. EICS verification forms and cover letters are currently generated in English, French, Spanish and Serbian to facilitate the verification process. The institution official declares whether the credential is or is not authentic when completing the verification form. The time it takes for EICS to receive verification of medical credentials is dependent on regional postal service and the internal processing of the issuing institution. Physicians may arrange with EICS for courier service shipment of their verifications. Instructions for arranging courier service shipment are provided in the EICS application and EICS FAQ (FAQ#9).To protect the integrity of the primary source verification process:
- Verification forms are printed on watermarked security paper and are sent by EICS directly to the issuing institution. Verification forms must be received by EICS directly from the issuing institution. Verification forms cannot be emailed or faxed.
- Verification forms are sent by EICS to the attention of an authorized institution official. In the event an institution has several officials authorized to sign on its behalf, the senior official is requested to provide a listing of authorized officials' names, titles and signatures. This information is then added to EICS' extensive medical credentials reference library.
- Third parties, including the physician, do not have access to EICS verification forms at any point during the primary source verification process. Possession of an EICS verification form by a third party invalidates the verification.