Healthcare Compliance – A Three Step Journey

Understanding healthcare compliance is key to simultaneously growing your organization. Not only is it crucial to understand which compliance standard works best for your organization’s needs, but it’s imperative to implement the framework properly. Achieving healthcare compliance does not need to be a race, as it takes planning and forethought to successfully integrate the framework. In fact, there are three phases that healthcare practitioners must be aware of when starting their compliance journey. 

Step 1: Readiness Assessment Phase 

Engage with a third-party assessor to determine gaps within your control environment. This phase involves reviewing your organizations current security posture against the chosen control framework by performing control walkthrough interviews with control owners, reviewing existing policies and procedures, and reviewing other documents as needed. Based on these procedures, the assessor will identify any control gaps and provide detailed action items and guidance to meet the selected control framework requirements.  

Step 2: Remediation Phase 

The remediation phase involves remedying any gaps discovered during the readiness assessment phase. The effort required for remediation depends on the nature and extent of gaps identified in the readiness assessment phase. You should establish a clear timeline and identify the resources needed to remediate these gaps so you can be ready to engage in an audit at the appropriate time.  

Step 3: Audit Phase 

The audit process begins once the remediation of gaps identified in the readiness assessment phase is complete. During this phase, practice owners are required to provide sufficient appropriate evidence to the auditors to demonstrate that each of the required controls is properly designed, implemented, and operating effectively. The auditors’ testing will include control walkthrough interviews with control owners and inspection of policies, procedures, configurations, and other supporting documentation and evidence to meet the control requirements.  

Benefits of the Three-Step Framework 

Organizations using the three-step journey as growth strategy to achieve healthcare compliance are able to have the resources in place to expand their businesses. When new business opportunities arise, those practices will be able to demonstrate compliance, ultimately helping organizations win business and close deals quickly. 

Are you ready to start your journey to compliance? Work with a trusted professional to identify strategies that align with your organization and discover how to achieve successful and maintainable compliance. Whether your organization is taking its first steps on its compliance journey or already has compliance practices in place, EisnerAmper is here to help. Contact us today to build your pathway to compliance.