Telehealth Compliance
Running a business is laborious, demanding, and carries its fair share of risks. With burgeoning markets, come daunting regulations and industry standards that companies must frequently adhere to and this requirement is no different for the telehealth industry. For healthcare organizations, accurate compliance with rules and regulations is of paramount importance. Moreover, the amount of time consumed in continuously monitoring for compliance and the risk of non-compliance—even with strict regulations—is a significant concern for the telehealth industry.
Though healthcare regulations have been put in place to ensure that patient safety and quality of care isn’t compromised, they may often usher in a dangerous labyrinth of risk profiles and multiple overlapping compliance regulations. In addition, failure to adhere to regulatory standards quickly can result in hefty fines and pervasive reputational damage. Furthermore, with a complex network of legal regulations, healthcare organizations must understand the intricate environment of multiple standards to not only remain in compliance with the regulations, but to also reduce their overall compliance risk.
Certification management solutions (CMS) exist to assist healthcare organizations with the complexity of remaining compliant while minimizing risk. CMS is comprehensive suite of software tools that integrates certification requirements and enables the company to automate on-boarding processes and integrated cloud-based workflows. It helps healthcare organization monitor compliance, validates employee certification and allows employers to track, record and store data in a single centralized location.
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) is one such regulation affecting the telehealth industry. CMS enables healthcare organizations to mitigate risks associated with CLIA by allowing employers to maintain CLIA requirements—such as the comparison and tracking of established standards—and apply the standards instantly and continuously across the company’s workforce. This helps employers enforce accountability and prevent non-compliance while simultaneously keeping their employees in the know on certifications and tools.
One of the biggest benefits of implementing a CMS is access to real-time data, which allows employers to monitor substance test results, employee training and tracking, CME evaluations and requirements, licensing, credential verification and other compliance elements in one centralized location. CMS also streamlines the onboarding of new hires and reduces time spent processing and reconciling Certification records manually.
Beyond the advantages for the employer, CMS systems have the potential to provide employees with greater flexibility and control. By streamlining the compliance process, employers save time and reduce manual processes, which translates to more focus on their core business strategy.
In conclusion, no matter the size or complexity of a healthcare organization, utilizing a CMS system is imperative to reduce compliance risks and to ensure accuracy in meeting requirements and staying in accordance with healthcare regulations. CMS systems allowing healthcare organizations to remain in compliance while ensuring that their workforce is well-equipped with the right certifications and training necessary to succeed in the telehealth industry.
