Telehealth Compliance
The implementation of a credentialing management system is essential for any organization requiring accurate and ongoing tracking of healthcare provider credentials. Telehealth, or the provision of medical health and wellness services via electronic communication, is no exception. The risks of not integrating a credentialing management solution are numerous, with potentially devastating financial and legal repercussions, not to mention considerable reputational damage.
Organizations employing credentialing management solutions benefit from improved, up-to-date data on healthcare providers’ qualifications and levels of accreditation, enabling them to accurately and proactively assess candidate credentials. The risk of engaging healthcare providers without the appropriate qualifications is eliminated and telehealth services can be provided with the assurance of professional quality and patient safety.
The rigorous credentialing process ensures that healthcare providers are qualified and trained to meet the standards of the service, while protecting the organization against the risk of inaccurate or incomplete qualifications, falsifications or lapsed accreditations. The automated tracking of deadlines for certifications and qualifications renewal helps to reduce the risks associated with relying on manual tracking of paperwork which can often result in delays and errors.
The legal implications of engaging unqualified healthcare professionals are extensive, resulting in repercussions ranging from significant financial and reputational damage to criminal or civil action against the organization. The costs associated with litigation and potential settlements can be astronomical. A credentialing management system can mitigate these risks by providing a central repository for all credentialing data which is both compliant with legal and regulatory requirements, and easily accessible.
The automation of the task of tracking healthcare provider qualifications and accreditations also relieves administrative personnel from the burden of manual tracking and data entry, enabling them to focus on higher value tasks and creating time and cost efficiencies. This delivers a positive return on investment for any organization, in addition to benefiting from reduced risk.
In summary, the integration of a credentialing management solution is essential for any organization providing telehealth services. The improved accuracy and efficiency of data tracking ensures that healthcare professionals possess the necessary qualifications and expertise, while protecting the organization from the financial and legal risks associated with the engagement of unqualified personnel. Automating the tracking process also serves to maximize time and cost efficiency, ensuring a positive return on investment over the long term.
