Meet Lea Cobb ...continued from page 15 nal audit functions. HIPAA privacy, security, and Transaction Code Set requirements have all been addressed and implemented. We are currently working on National Provider Identifier (NPI) compliance. <strong>JO</strong>: Does your compliance program play a role in quality-of-care issues, and if so, how? LC: We have a comprehensive compliance program process that integrates compliance, risk management, and quality. These functions work in tandem. Quality-of-care reporting is part of the compliance auditing and monitoring program. Quality-of-care issues are managed at the CCRC through the Community Performance Improvement/Risk Management/Safety Committee with compliance as part of the structure. <strong>JO</strong>: How do you go about getting employee and staff support for your compliance efforts? LC: <strong>Compliance</strong> is an integral part of the everyday work of all employees, staff, and management members. <strong>Compliance</strong> is woven into the everyday job duties, “Erickson Way Values,” and responsibilities of the employees. Management plays a key role in employee and staff buy-in and continued compliance support. The “Erickson Way Values” are our organization’s approach to creating an atmosphere of accountability for ethical employee behavior. <strong>JO</strong>: How do you keep education and training interesting and effective? LC: We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to conduct education and training to keep it humorous, interesting, and interactive. We employ a variety of venues to reach our widespread and diverse employee workforce. We use faceto-face training provided at the CCRC by the compliance liaison and at Erickson by corporate human resources. Additionally, we have established an Internet compliance site specifically for staff to have access to new or revised policies, education and training materials, and to alert them to new information. We send information through published compliance articles in newsletters or via e-mail. <strong>Compliance</strong> updates are provided at the CCRC by the compliance liaison and at Erickson by the compliance department through executive leadership team meetings, departmental meetings, and staff meetings. The director of compliance and policy/HIPAA privacy officer and the assistant director of coding and compliance also provide face-to-face education and training by traveling to the CCRC’s. <strong>Compliance</strong> training is also provided through the use of Web-based training sessions. We are beginning to embark on an interactive, comprehensive, on-line compliance education and training program. We use posters, keycards, brochures, and magnets to provide awareness training to all staff on the Code of Conduct, PREVENT program, and Values Line reporting. I also look to the <strong>Compliance</strong> and Ethics committee and executive leadership team to generate ideas for training. It is very important to consistently evaluate the compliance education and training program from the view point of a staff member. This allows us to make changes when necessary to keep the training as interesting and interactive as possible. <strong>JO</strong>: What do you see as the greatest compliance challenges for the CCRC industry in the next three years? LC: I see many challenges in the next three years, including recruitment and retention of high quality staff, escalating insurance costs, and regulatory compliance coupled with uncertain financial markets and increasing consumer demand for cutting-edge aging services. Other challenges include: CCAC/ CARF 2 accreditation standards and compliance; keeping current with emerging technology, such as the electronic health record; government initiatives related to health and technology; and HIPAA enforcement. Living in times of constant change, we never truly know what to expect as there will always be regulatory and legislative initiatives and enforcement practices for which a CCRC will have to be prepared. <strong>JO</strong>: You attended the HCCA <strong>Compliance</strong> Academy and are certified in healthcare compliance (CHC). Why did you decide to attend the academy and has it helped you in your role? LC: I decided to attend the academy due to its reputation, industry knowledge of key constituents, resources available, educational and networking opportunities, and national organizational notoriety. The CHC designation has given me creditability among my peers and colleagues as well as professional recognition in the area of health care compliance. <strong>JO</strong>: HCCA offers a number of educational opportunities. Which most closely match your needs? LC: I received great value from my attendance at the Fraud and <strong>Compliance</strong> Conference which is conducted in conjunction with the American <strong>Health</strong> Lawyers <strong>Association</strong>. Additionally, I found the <strong>Compliance</strong> and Ethics Institute and Medicare D <strong>Compliance</strong> Institute to be most useful. The <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Care</strong> <strong>Compliance</strong> Manual is a must for all compliance professionals. <strong>JO</strong>: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in compliance and setting up a program? LC: Keep it simple, make it fun, and know the regulations affecting the compli- Continued on page 19 September 2006 16 <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Care</strong> <strong>Compliance</strong> <strong>Association</strong> • 888-580-8373 • www.hcca-info.org
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Care</strong> <strong>Compliance</strong> <strong>Association</strong> • 888-580-8373 • www.hcca-info.org September 2006 17