Communication Policies & Procedures [Healthcare Compliance Tips]

Create communication policies and procedures.

In Part II of “The Blame Game: 5 Tips to Restore Practice Communication,” one must truly understand the rules to end the blame game.

And to help you create new communication rules, you will need to review the OIG’s “7 Elements of an Effective Compliance Program,” which should be your number one guide to compliance.

The elements will assist you with establishing standards and procedures (i.e., communication) that not only fit your practice but ensures you meet regulatory expectations as well.

So, let’s keep this simple; here are some suggestions to help you create your new communication policies and procedures, such as:

• Explain why the policy was developed and who the policy applies to. This includes highlighting management’s role.
• Identify your practice’s communication method. A bulleted format is suggested to simplify the process.
• Provide the educational objectives. Explain how often you will perform communication training (i.e., hand-off training).
• Create a section on how you will investigate communication violations and the consequences of not complying with the policy.
• Define your “open-door” policy and how you will handle questions or concerns that may arise.

A best practice is to review your communication policy at least annually to determine any necessary updates.

After creating the policies and procedures, in the next tip, I will explain how to identify the method of communication.

**The opinions and observations from the group/author are not a promise to exempt your practice from fines and penalties.  Research, modify, and tailor the advice to fit your specialty.

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