(11/7/2022)
For healthcare facilities, rules and regulations act as a foundational shield against preventable harm within the physical environment. Without a comprehensive compliance strategy, facilities may face legal and financial repercussions, in addition to putting patients, staff and visitors at risk.
Implementing strong compliance strategies can even out what may otherwise be a race to readiness months prior to your triennial survey. By setting your compliance course in a manner that provides an “always-ready” steadiness, you can avoid the mental stress and be confident of safety and success during any unscheduled survey.
Prioritizing safety
Compliant practices ensure safety and privacy are protected within facilities by providing guidance and effective tools for minimizing risks. In order to create and maintain a safe healthcare environment, a compliance program should align daily operations with the organizational mission.
Placing safety as your facility’s primary concern requires creating a culture of compliance through clear expectations. When leaders showcase their facility’s commitment to safety by promoting compliant practices, they establish facility-wide trust and understanding, which will help healthcare teams feel supported and prepared to tackle future challenges.
Staying ahead of regulations
As regulations change based on new information and data, facilities should be ready to accommodate evolving standards to remain compliant. Staying up-to-date will help your facility avoid legal penalties and keep patients and associates as safe as possible given new advancements, including updates to the Life Safety Code.
Effective compliance programs can prevent negative outcomes and solve issues before they arise by establishing procedures that promote safe practices and ensure survey readiness. For Medxcel, compliance has always been the backbone of facility management and emergency preparedness, which is why we
offer support to keep facility protocol on par with evolving regulations.
Preparing for unexpected circumstances
The past couple years have demonstrated
the vital role compliance plays in keeping patients and healthcare staff out of harm’s way during a public health crisis. Around the world, facilities relied on both established and innovative compliance strategies to keep hospitals open and functional. For example, in addition to traditional infectious disease protocol, healthcare workers took additional measures to prevent unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.
Adaptability is key for remaining compliant in these situations. During supply chain shortages in recent years, many facilities that previously relied on one supplier had to diversify vendors to remain compliant and keep enough necessary equipment on hand.
From hurricanes to disease outbreaks, staying vigilant on compliance standards is essential. Comprehensive compliance programs can allow facilities to keep the doors open when communities need them the most.
To learn more about how we can help your facility identify compliance gaps and create a plan for compliance assurance,
request a consultation.