The healthcare industry is highly regulated with exacting professional, legal, and ethical standards. Healthcare IT compliance gives laws and standards relating to the confidentiality of patient information, patient safety, and billing practices. 

Noncompliance attracts steep penalties, including slashing of Medicaid and Medicare funding. It also affects operations in healthcare facilities and compromises the welfare of patients and staff.

Frameworks of Healthcare IT Compliance

Compliance issues are a concern for all types of healthcare providers and some have undertaken measures to avoid or reduce their liability. When organizations engage in this continuous regulatory process, the focus is on responsibilities pertaining:

• The recognition of the need to establish and implement a need-based program for training employees

• Motivating employees to sustain commitment to compliance requirements

• Developing systems to improve compliance

• Establishing parameters for evaluating and reporting on the program to improve its efficiency

Steps towards Developing a Healthcare IT Compliance Program

Developing and sustaining a compliance system is a team-based exercise that involves all the staff in the organization. However, the facility must appoint a Compliance Officer or institute a Compliance Committee or department to coordinate and offer guidance at all levels of the program. A healthcare compliance team often comprises security consultants, security analysts, a legal team, the compliance officer, and an IT team.

The Compliance committee members must have certification depending on the areas of their expertise, such as:

• Research compliance Certification 

• Certificate in Healthcare Compliance

• Certification in Compliance and Ethics

• Certification in Privacy Compliance

The compliance team, whether in-house or outsourced, together with the executive management of the facility should come up with a scalable compliance program by performing the following roles:

• Scrutinizing and implementing written regulations that guide standards of conduct

• Developing an effective program to educate and onboard employees to empower them

• Conducting internal audits and monitoring exercises through anonymous surveys and various data collecting methods. Such a measure will provide feedback and evaluation on the compliance process for further improvement and address complaints arising from various levels of implementation.

• Outlining and publicizing disciplinary measures and procedures. Such measures include fines and dismissal of non-compliant staff. The team should also educate the staff on the penalties meted on non-compliant organizations by state and federal regulatory agencies.

• A prompt and effective response to compliance challenges. The team should provide solutions to limitations and challenges arising in the compliance exercise. 

Compliance challenges could arise from:

1. Technological advancements that render security software redundant

2. Changing trends in practice and policies in the healthcare industry

3. Changes in the laws and regulations stipulated by regulatory agencies

4. Expansion of the healthcare facility in the number of patients and diversity of services

Healthcare IT compliance remains mandatory in protecting the integrity and quality of your organization and its operations. Outsourcing the role of developing an effective compliance plan is an option. It will avail professional and quality services from accredited providers to keep your facility out of trouble with regulatory authorities. Fill out the form below to receive a customized evaluation and solution for your healthcare IT compliance needs.