Health Care Compliance for the Front Office-Health Care Compliance for the Front Office

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this presentation on health care compliance for the front office, Linda Fitzum, a certified medical assistant, defines health care compliance as the process of meeting legal, ethical, and professional standards that apply to a health care entity. She explains that the front office staff plays a crucial role in improving patient safety, protecting patient privacy, and ensuring accurate billing and collection techniques. Fitzum emphasizes the importance of following the policies and procedures of each organization and notes that compliance cannot account for all specific state laws. Regarding patient safety, the front office staff serves as the first line of defense by identifying potential safety issues and working as a team to address them. Fitzum advises the staff to be prepared for medical emergencies, know their roles, and have clear policies and procedures in place for emergencies such as an active shooter situation. She highlights the importance of defusing difficult situations, both in person and over the phone, to ensure patient safety. When it comes to patient privacy, Fitzum explains that protected health information must not be disclosed without patient consent or knowledge, as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) . Violations of HIPAA can result in serious consequences, including fines and criminal charges. She discusses various identifiers that are considered protected health information and advises against using abbreviations or acronyms that may be misunderstood or misused. Fitzum also stresses the need for accurate documentation, especially when taking phone messages, and recommends using empathy and portal messaging to improve patient communication. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of following office protocols and using text macros for efficient documentation. Overall, Fitzum's presentation underscores the front office staff's pivotal role in healthcare compliance and ensuring patient safety, privacy, and accurate billing practices.

Keywords

health care compliance

front office

Linda Fitzum

patient safety

patient privacy

accurate billing

HIPAA

protected health information

medical emergencies

office protocols