Telehealth Compliance
The importance of a certification tracking system in any industry should not be understated, and that importance is magnified in the telemedicine sector, with its myriad of stakeholders and the need to be ever-vigilant in maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations. In the hands of an experienced head of compliance, a certification tracking system can be an invaluable tool, allowing for quick and efficient utilization of data to ensure fast response times with proactive responses to both challenges, trends and opportunities.
At the heart of any compliance system lies the need to track certifications and accreditations, as well as any ongoing competency development requirements for personnel. This can be a laborious task, particularly if not approached strategically, especially given that in the telemedicine sector the stakes are particularly high. Inaccurate data, delays in certifications, or not properly maintaining training records, can be costly for organizations, both financially and reputationally.
The purpose of a certification tracking system is to provide a central repository for all certifications and records of competence needed, as well as to monitor progress in keeping up with and maintaining these. This includes the tracking of both employee and organizational certifications and any registration numbers issued in each case. Furthermore it should also be noted that individual personnel records and certifications should be tracked over time; this will help in monitoring when recertification needs to happen and helps in mapping out the organization’s training requirements.
The principal functionality of a certification tracking system should be the creation of a well-organized, easily accessible database within which all certifications and records can be stored. Firstly, the system should be able to issue reminders to personnel when certification needs to be renewed, or when supplemental training or CME credits are due. An efficient system should automatically generate reports for the purpose of tracking and verifying required certifications. This type of system should also provide personnel with the ability to submit user-generated updates as new certifications are received.
A further feature of a certification tracking system should be an automated workflow module. This allows for a streamlined approach in terms of validating new certifications, tracking progress and renewal, as well as managing and tracking the data related to approved sanction actions, credentials and suitability for licensure. All this data should be searchable and reportable in an appropriate format which is reliable, quick and secure in order to ensure that it can be utilized to its greatest potential.
Overall, the head of compliance within the telemedicine sector needs to select a certification tracking system that is well-suited to the needs of their particular sector. The system should be comprehensive, simple to use and highly secure, as well as having advanced functionality to ensure that it is able to cope with the ever-changing landscape of the telemedicine sector. Ultimately, a certification tracking system is an invaluable tool for any head of compliance; for the telemedicine sector in particular, its use is essential for accurate and timely analysis of data, which is vital to compliance with the applicable regulations.
