Healthcare professionals must follow policies and procedures to ensure that there is standardization in daily operational activities. Many of these policies exist to remain in compliance with regulatory requirements and legal liabilities.
Offering Informed Consent
One example of a legal policy healthcare professionals must follow is informed consent. Patients have the right to be fully informed about their medical condition so they may then choose which treatment is the best option.
Maintaining Data Privacy
Healthcare professionals are also responsible for providing their patients with data privacy according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Even when a patient passes away, a healthcare provider must keep a patient’s records private.
Maintaining Regulatory Compliance
Fortunately, healthcare professionals can receive help and experience the benefits of legal support services regardless of whether they need to draft a contract or need help throughout the process of litigation. There are several regulations you may need help complying with such as the Stark Act, False Claims Act, and the anti-kickback statute.
Creating Policy and Procedure Manuals
To remain in compliance, healthcare staff rely on policy and procedure manuals. Then, when healthcare staff is disciplined for not following these manuals, they may assert that they were the victims of wrongful termination. To avoid this, you will need help from legal services that can help yo draft policy and procedure manuals that can help you avoid liability.
For example, because healthcare providers must have policies in place to protect their patients’ privacy, patient information might pass through several hands. Therefore, you will need policies in place to ensure that confidential patient information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
Following Legal Developments
Even if you have been carefully following healthcare regulations for years, you may find it difficult to remain abreast of the latest healthcare legislation. For legal services, their primary purpose is to study law and remain up-to-date on the latest changes. They will then be able to come up with novel solutions to your legal problems that a layman may not think of.
Maintaining Patient Boundaries
Patients are very vulnerable and healthcare professionals must maintain appropriate boundaries. However, some patients may retaliate by asserting that a healthcare provider has exceeded professional boundaries. You may then need help from legal services to build a case to defend yourself in the court of law against accusations of boundary violations.
Providing Access to Healthcare
One of the areas healthcare professionals might struggle with the most is the mandate to offer access to healthcare. You must help patients who lack access to the resources needed to receive medical care. Legal services can help your practice reduce the odds of facing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Another area where you may need legal help is neglect, especially if your clinic cares for patients over the long-term. Cases of neglect can lead to expensive lawsuits.
Responding to Government Investigations
If you are under investigation by the government, you will want to contact a healthcare lawyer who has had experience handling regulatory matters. Government investigations can lead to expensive fines and may also damage the reputation of your practice. For example, you might be accused of fraudulently billing customers for procedures that are not necessary to make more money. In the most extreme cases, you may face jail time for healthcare fraud.
