HIPAA compliance is an incredibly detailed and complicated task to maneuver, not just with the everchanging fluidity of the requirements, but also because it takes a village to ensure proper compliance.
What is a Culture of Compliance?
A true culture of compliance means that HIPAA Compliance isn’t reliant on one department for its success. Compliance is woven into the everyday actions of everyone within the practice. Each person understands why compliance is important and how their role directly impacts compliance policies and procedures.
Management should be able to work together with employees to ensure proper adherence to company policies and procedures, building the practices compliance plan into an experience and a norm for them, rather than just a box to be checked.
Compliance in the Real World
Streamlinz had the conversation with a client recently, about why their compliance plan continued to be pushed aside and tabled as other issues arise. This practitioner said, “If I focused all my time on being compliant with governmental requirements, I wouldn’t have any time to focus on medicine.”
A company can have all the tools in the world to maintain compliance, but without someone working full time, or spending hours on a plan daily to continue setting up compliance, there will always be something slipping through the cracks.
Training is More Than a Requirement, it is a Critical Touchpoint for Culture
Each time your practice assigns a training, or conducts an ongoing audit segment, it reinforces the message, “these matter to us” to your employees. This will cultivate a safe environment for employees to share insight, ask questions, and give feedback into what they think is important.
The key to a successful compliance plan is simple, share the labor with others. Through splitting up the labor and having everyone responsible for a section of compliant behavior, there is less strain on the company. Privacy, security, and accountability must be embedded into the practice to maintain a compliance plan which will withstand the test of time but also change with the company as you grow.
Continuing to encourage a culture of proper compliance procedures, not only keeps your company safe, but builds a relationship of trust and integrity between coworkers, clients, and regulators.
Fighting Burnout, Creating Culture
Assigning additional tasks, without addressing its purpose, leads to frustration with employees and may lead to increased burnout and confusion. By creating a system and normalizing teamwork around compliance, it becomes second nature to employees and staff.
Streamlinz helps not only with providing the tools and infrastructure to have a successful compliance plan, but also emphasizes it to be second nature to your organization. Let’s move compliance from the backburner to a headliner of your practice. Stay secure and build trust, together.