Rules and regulations surrounding the healthcare field are constantly changing and evolving. Even when medical employees know the rules around their specific field, they may need to learn about certain federal regulations to minimize the risk of breaking them. Healthcare workers must be aware of these laws and rules and always follow them. Otherwise, they may face serious legal consequences affecting their careers and patients.
Promoting compliance through training and education
There are laws and regulations that healthcare institutions need to educate their employees on. Proper training and education can help them avoid making mistakes that could violate these laws and harm their patients or personal information. Some of the most important laws that healthcare workers need to know and follow are:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Anti-Kickback Statute
- False Claims Act (FCA)
In addition to these federal laws, healthcare workers must also comply with their institution’s policies and procedures regarding patient care and safety issues.
Consequences for non-compliance
Violating any laws and regulations that apply to the healthcare field can have serious consequences for healthcare workers and their institutions. They may face:
- Losing their professional license
- Facing criminal charges
- Damaging their reputation and future job prospects
- Losing their job
- Facing a lawsuit from patients or their families
Healthcare workers have a huge responsibility to care for people and protect their private information. Therefore, they must understand and follow the laws that govern their work.
Patients and their families trust them to act ethically and lawfully. When institutions train healthcare workers on the relevant laws, they help them avoid harming their patients or facing legal troubles.