Healthcare Compliance Tips
Communication Policies & Procedures [Healthcare Compliance Tips]
Healthcare Compliance Tips
Communication Training [Healthcare Compliance Tips]
Healthcare Compliance Tips
Communication Policies & Procedures [Healthcare Compliance Tips]
Healthcare Compliance Tips
Communication Training [Healthcare Compliance Tips]

Communication Checklist [Healthcare Compliance Tips]

Devise a communication checklist.

In the last post of our series called “The Blame Game: 5 Tips to Restore Practice Communication,” we discussed the importance of creating communication policies and procedures.

However, per the OIG, creating policies and procedures is not enough.

It’s time to put your guidelines into motion because just telling your employees to communicate better is not enough.  We must now identify the primary method of communication in the form of a checklist.

To get you started, here are a few questions you can ask yourself as you build your checklist, such as:

  • Who is the point of contact for the issue? Do I want to designate one employee or establish team meetings to gather information daily?
  • How many times a day should we share these messages or updates?
  • How will we determine which message needs immediate attention?
  • Which HIPAA complaint technology system will we utilize for communication?

After you have answered these questions with additional brainstorming, you can now produce a bulleted checklist.  Your checklist should include boxes that the staff can check off to ensure they are following each procedure.

I would also suggest you ensure the communication checklist is visible to employees in the common areas (i.e., front desk, breakroom) of your practice.

Remember, the checklist doesn’t have to be perfect because you will probably revise it a few times.

The goal is to create a system that allows messages and updates to arrive timely to the provider, management, and team.

 

**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.

Click here for the next tip in the series.

Joi Sherrod, MPH, CPC, CPCO
Joi Sherrod, MPH, CPC, CPCO
Joi is an educator and owner of JNC Healthcare Compliance Group. After working for distinguished academic teaching hospitals and clinics, she is passionate about helping medical, dental, and behavioral health practices rethink healthcare compliance one trend at a time. Contact Joi at info@jnccompliance.com.