Telehealth Compliance
Telehealth is an industry expanding rapidly but also one that requires expertise in data protection and sensitive technological systems to ensure the proper delivery of health services. As an HR executive in the telehealth field, it is your responsibility to ensure that your organization and its staff abides by the best practices for secure data transmission and storage, as well as for the accurate tracking of certifications, training, and credentials. Failure to implement a proper certification tracking system can be detrimental to both your organization and the services it provides to its telehealth clients.
A best practices certification tracking system involves keeping an updated list of staff credentials and training, as well as having control over what certifications staff have earned and when they need to be renewed. This is particularly important with telehealth care as certifications granted to medical personnel must be up-to-date and in good standing in order to legally and ethically provide or access patient information. Without a secure system in place, staff members can go un-monitored, leading to potential problems related to dormant or expired certifications. Furthermore, there may be no records of any training required for certain responsibilities. This can put the organization at risk for negligence, put its patient`s safety in jeopardy, and even attract unwanted attention from regulatory and professional organizations.
An effective certification tracking system should provide easy access to real-time data on staff credentials with the ability to filter by specific requirements, certifications, and regulatory guidelines. It should also track expirations and renewals so that the organization can stay up-to-date on its staff members’ certifications. This helps to prevent breaches of patient data or service requests as staff credentials will be readily available. Certification tracking systems also offer the ability to run reports with up-to-the minute data. This is useful when providing proof to regulatory agencies and healthcare organizations that the organization is taking due diligence in tracking certifications.
Unfortunately, manual tracking of certifications is outdated and prone to errors. Utilizing the assistance of a certification tracking system ensures accuracy and reliability when tracking staff credentials and helps to ease the staff workload. The organization may choose a software that is cloud-based and cost-effective, or even consider a company that specializes in the organization of healthcare and telehealth staff certifications.
The cost of a certification tracking system will depend on the organization’s needs and capabilities, but most reputable providers offer affordable programs that require minimal setup and provide access to a variety of reports. By investing in an automated and secure certification tracking system, HR executives can save their organization time and money while providing their staff and patients with the reassurance of following best practices regarding their credentials. Implementing a certification tracking system can be the difference between a successful and compliant organization, and one that may find itself facing compliance issues and stringent penalties.
