Navigating the labyrinth of healthcare regulatory requirements can be daunting. Healthcare organizations are regulated at federal, state, and local levels. Further compounding the complexity of healthcare compliance, is the fact that new regulations are added and existing ones are modified on a regular basis. However, it is simply not an option to ignore policy management.
Robust corporate policy management is essential to operational efficiency, quality, patient safety, improved interoperability and maximum reimbursement. Electronic document management systems in healthcare can reduce the amount of time you and your staff spend on the wide range of tasks associated with policy management. Healthcare organizations need a trusted partner that understands the unique needs of healthcare organizations and the regulatory landscape in which they operate.
Healthcare leaders wishing to enhance interoperability through effective procedure and policy management should consider these three strategies.
1. Leverage Automated Policy Management Systems
Automated systems are capable of transforming a mountain of paperwork into an organized, searchable, online resource thereby reducing the amount of time that staff spends searching for the correct and most up-to-date policies.
Automated systems simplify the distribution and tracking of key documents, ensuring alignment with your institutional mission. These systems also help ensure that employees acknowledge through attestation that they have read and received new policies. Leaders can use comprehensive dashboards and reports to ensure that new policies have been thoroughly distributed. Further, quizzes help ensure that staff are retaining important policy information and can help your organization avoid risks and common medical documentation errors.
Leaders never have to worry about out-of-date policies as automated systems provide up-to-date versions of those policies and procedures and also provide notifications to leaders when a policy is out of date.
2. Ensure Documentation is Easily Accessible with Policy Automation Software
Keeping up with ever-changing policies can be overwhelming. However, failing to do so can lead to costly mistakes if documentation and subsequent changes are not tracked or are not readily accessible to staff. Document automation for healthcare can ensure that documentation is up-to-date and accessible.
An automated policy management system ensures all employees are aware of the latest regulations, makes it possible to demonstrate that employees have read and understood them, and are compliant with organizational standards.
Accessible documentation also reduces the likelihood of errors, improves accountability, and improves compliance with regulators and accrediting bodies. Organizations can maintain a constant state of audit readiness with policy and document attestation.
3. Adopt Comprehensive Policy and Procedure Management Solutions
An automated, comprehensive solution that supports policy and procedure management can help your organization focus more on its core mission and less on the administrative burdens associated with healthcare administration. The efficiency of an automated system means more than just reducing paperwork – it can also result in improved quality and safety and a reduction in risk, along with a reduction in documentation and medical errors.
Comprehensive, automated policy management systems can help build a culture of accountability and transparency and contribute to a more efficient and effective workplace. It will also help staff and leaders feel confident that policies are up to date.
By adopting simple automation strategies, organizations can enhance their interoperability, ensuring smoother operations, and better regulatory compliance. These strategies not only contribute to a more efficient workplace but also contribute to an environment of accountability and transparency while reducing risk and improving employee confidence.
Click here to learn more about HealthStream’s policy and procedure management system.
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