Healthcare Compliance
What is healthcare compliance?
Healthcare compliance describes an organization’s or care professional’s adherence to all legal, ethical, and professional standards and regulations associated with care.
All healthcare organizations must be compliant with certain conditions of participation to participate in federal healthcare programs. Healthcare compliance is part of a holistic approach called healthcare governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC).
Various federal and state agencies are in charge of regulating healthcare compliance:
- The Food and Drug Administration regulates the creation and distribution of medication
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees a variety of programs designed to improve public health
- The Joint Commission accredits and certifies various organizations that meet compliance standards for patient safety and care quality
The rules of healthcare compliance can be complex and change frequently. To keep up with these changes, organizations may need to undergo operational and workflow changes, internal audits, ongoing education, and health IT compliance updates.
Why is healthcare compliance important for healthcare?
Healthcare compliance is crucial for creating high-performing, safe, and high-reliability environments. This ensures higher-quality care for the patient while also aiding healthcare staff by optimizing their workforce.
Organizations that do not adhere to quality standards may worsen patient outcomes or lead to patient injury or death. Even small mistakes can significantly affect care coordination and patient safety, which is why organization-wide healthcare compliance ensures that all procedures are correctly followed and all staff understand their expectations.