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Tip: Ensure your employees know how to report problems

Healthcare Auditing Weekly, April 14, 2009

Prevention is a big part of keeping your organization from facing serious compliance questions. Be sure that you are doing all you can to track what goes on in your hospital and learn about problems before they escalate. This includes making sure that employees know when and how to report problems, and that these channels operate efficiently. Taking the following steps can prevent headaches down the road:

• Ensure a follow-up. Employees who report a concern should know that the right person has received the message and will take appropriate action.
• Ensure employees use the hotline effectively. Every hospital should have a reporting hotline. Make sure your organization maintains logs of all calls. Also, there should be a monthly debriefing between the hotline monitor and the compliance officer, or whoever the compliance plan designates to follow up.
• Publicize the importance of compliance. Verify that your organization reminds employees of their duty to report problems. Employee newsletters, training sessions, e-mails, and posters are all good ways to make sure everyone knows how to report noncompliance.

This tip was adapted from The Healthcare Auditor’s Handbook. For more information about the book or to order your copy, visit the HCMarketplace.

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