Telehealth Compliance
The telemedicine industry faces complex regulatory challenges, which include a multitude of federal, state, and local reporting and certification requirements. Legislation adopted to strengthen patient privacy, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for instance, necessitates the required implementation of policies and procedures designed to protect sensitive information. In addition to HIPAA regulations, government-mandated incentives to increase the use of electronic health records, additionally necessitates practitioners to comply with the most current health information technology (HIT) standards. These regulations and requirements can be laborious and difficult to keep up with, yet failing to stay compliant can have serious financial and legal implications for a telemedicine business.
In an effort to simplify the process of managing compliance, many healthcare organizations are turning to automation and online certification software. Automation tools are the perfect solution to meet the needs of telemedicine providers; the software creates simple, computer-based systems that free up healthcare staff to focus on more important patients’ needs. Automation streamlines administrative functions and supports the development of real-time systems with immediate access to critical patient data. Automation is particularly beneficial in areas such as patient registration, scheduling, and patient notification.
Online certification software is another tool that is seeing an increase in use amongst telemedicine providers. This software is designed to ensure that the provider is meeting all legal and regulatory standards as they pertain to the state and/or federal setting in which they intend to practice. The software is used to assess the organization’s workflow in order to determine the best courses of action. It also can be used to monitor the compliance status of providers, assess HIPAA compliance, and track changes in patient identification.
When it comes to ensuring the accuracy and safety of medical information, security and privacy is paramount; the software is able to protect patient’s data by identifying potential risks and delivering proactive solutions to any vulnerabilities. Automation and online certification software also allows telemedicine providers to share patient-generated data with third-party clients without manually issuing HIPAA authorization forms. The use of automated software ensures that the provider meets all HIPAA and HIT regulations, improving the safety and accuracy of healthcare services.
For the Head of Finance in the telemedicine industry, automation and online certification software alleviates the pressure to keep up with constantly changing regulations and helps to ensure the continued success of the company. A variety of industry-compliant software solutions, such as Microsoft’s Cloud Solutions, are offered to simplify compliance programs and give peace of mind to telemedicine providers. Automation capabilities and sound business practices help to ensure business relevance and staying power in a competitive and ever-shifting medical market.
By deploying automation and online certification software in compliance programs, telemedicine practitioners are able to balance patient services and administrative needs while optimizing efficiency and productivity. The improved decision-making capabilities allow providers to focus on their core mission and deliver improved quality of care to their patients.
