Telehealth Compliance
As Head of Compliance for the Telemedicine industry, integrating a credentialing management solution into your existing processes might feel daunting. The reward, however, outweighs the risk of taking no action. With the growing complexities of the healthcare industry, many organizations should no longer rely on traditional credentialing processes, implementing an up-to-date solution is the most efficient and cost-effective way to maintain regulatory compliance and to protect their patients. Let’s explore the risk of non-integrated credentialing management and why it is in the organization’s best interest to act diligently.
Manual credentialing processes can be lengthy and largely reliant on paper-based documents and specialized department staff. In many cases, the steps take too long, often resulting in providers missing out on important opportunities or important parts of a onboarding package. Furthermore, implementation of manual processes are difficult to track and audit, leading to potential compliance violations or other problems. If a particular step of the credentialing process is not completed due to negligence or other contributing causes, a legal issue may occur. This can cause considerable losses in time and resources, as well as compromised patient safety.
When organizations fail to maintain an updated database of all providers’ credentials, there is a heightened risk of identity theft or malpractice. Patients rely on their healthcare providers, who must meet not only regulatory standards, but also possess the necessary technical knowledge and expertise to provide them with the best care. Without an automated credentialing solution in place, healthcare organizations may be unknowingly storing inaccurate or incomplete information that can be disastrous in the event of a lawsuit.
Furthermore, failing to integrate a credentialing management solution can negatively affect organization’s relationship with providers. Delayed credentialing processes can delay payments, access to services, and hinder compliance with governmental policies. Payment delays can cause providers to become frustrated and lead them to seek other opportunities with more reliable organizations.
Integrating a credentialing management solution into existing processes can streamline the process, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Automated workflow can improve the quality and accuracy of collected data, creating a streamlined process that is more cost and time-effective. Additionally, analytics and reporting features will keep track of credentialing data and provide insights on performance.
The present regulatory and technological landscape necessitates a review of credentialing processes. At the end of the day, non-integrated credentialing management risk staff burnout, missing opportunities, compliance violations, and security issues. With a credentialing management solution, organizations can save time, money, and the risk of potential lawsuits.
