Compliance / Step Three_Designating a compliance contact

Why This Topic Matters

Choosing who oversees compliance affects how a practice manages audits, corrective actions, training, monitoring, and ongoing program maintenance. The article helps practices evaluate staffing constraints and organizational structure when deciding how to handle compliance responsibilities.

Article Sections

1. Compliance responsibility after audits

   Introduces the need for a person or persons to oversee response efforts after audits identify risk areas. It discusses the general role of compliance oversight in a physician practice.

2. Compliance officer and compliance contacts

   Describes options for assigning compliance responsibilities within a practice, including shared responsibilities and designated compliance contacts. It also discusses how duties may be divided among employees.

3. Outsourcing compliance functions

   Covers the option of using outside parties to perform some or all compliance officer functions. It also notes factors a practice may consider when evaluating outsourced support and liaison arrangements.

4. Suggested duties for the designated compliance person

   Summarizes broad categories of responsibilities that may be assigned to a compliance lead. These duties relate to program oversight, monitoring, training, review, and response to concerns.

5. Practice-specific assessment

   Closes with the need for each practice to assess its own circumstances when choosing a compliance oversight approach.