(1/27/2020)
Maintaining regulatory compliance during the onboarding process for new employees can be a challenge, especially when procedures have been changed and staff is accustomed to doing processes a specific way. The pace or timing of changes can create confusion in the organization.
This is why consistent compliance education for all employees is vital to ensuring regulatory requirements are being followed. When educating employees on compliance, healthcare executives can follow these 3 simple steps to appropriately educate their facility staff.
- Develop a Plan in Advance.
Implementing frequent education programming allows healthcare leadership to keep staff up-to-date and aware of all ongoing changes. Regulatory compliance is complex, and breaking it down during these sessions is beneficial in both explaining protocol and establishing the importance of compliance. Planning in advance allows the leadership team to be prepared for any questions that may arise. Don’t delay in holding these training sessions — not acknowledging new compliance standards can be detrimental to any healthcare facility.
Educational programs should have a clear purpose and should be developed with healthcare staff in mind. Other necessary education can also be included in programming, so it’s important to analyze what other information staff could be trained on to improve daily operations. Use training as an opportunity to connect with staff and pin-point areas that may need more direction.
- Regulate Standards Internally.
Standardizing facility processes internally allows staff to be more easily educated. Having procedures without clear guidelines can cause miscommunication, confusion and inconsistency. Not to mention that when third-party groups assist with regulatory compliance, staff can often be dismissive of new ways of doing things. It’s crucial that healthcare leadership set a precedent for staff to follow, and they do so with their internal team
Healthcare staff must be flexible and willing to identify issues they have when following compliance standards. By creating set guidelines, organizations can also save money. When procedures are standardized in-house, issues can be more easily identified and prevented which allows for greater cost reductions.
- Evaluate Compliance Education.
Educating staff on compliance is complicated. It’s crucial to be open-minded to shifting plans in order to safeguard against errors and related fines.
Holding frequent educational sessions will subsequently establish more transparency within the facility. Including staff in decisions involving them increases the likelihood that the regulations discussed will be followed correctly. After initially launching the programming, it can always be modified to improve future effectiveness based on feedback.
As you begin to develop a compliance education program, always keep in mind how regulatory requirements can be adhered to long-term. Educating your healthcare facility staff on compliance in a frequent, timely manner ensures your patients’ safety will remain top of mind.
Interested in learning more about Medxcel’s effective compliance strategies? Contact us at
info@medxcel.com or 855-633-9235 to see what we can do for you!