Monitor Communication [Healthcare Compliance Tips]

Monitor your practice communication and update annually.

 After you have completed all the communication steps listed from our series called “The Blame Game: 5 Tips to Restore Practice Communication,” it is now time to monitor at least annually.

Here are five steps to ensure your communication plan stays fresh:

• Step #1: Attend communication classes to determine any new concepts to add to your existing plan.
• Step #2: Re-survey your staff, patients, business associates, etc., at least annually to get their honest opinion about the current plan or any barriers they are seeing.

• Step #3: Review your policies and procedures for any inconsistencies.  Add what you learned during classes or from your team’s opinion.

• Step #4: Evaluate your communication checklist to ensure it’s user-friendly and current.
• Step #5: Examine your training program and make changes per what you learned in Steps 1-4.

I know you may be thinking:

Who has time for all of this?

And, we always tell practices that you can make time now or pay later.

Remember, if you don’t continuously work on your communication plan, you run the risk of being reported to government officials.

Don’t be like John Doe’s Medical Clinic in our previous example.  Continue to make a conscious effort to ensure your communication plan is in place so the government sees you are trying to resolve any occurrences throughout the year.

**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.