Our health is personal and fundamental, which is why the details of a person’s health are considered protected information. As time passes, new advances in healthcare – such as telehealth appointments and the rise of their use and popularity with the COVID-19 pandemic – contribute positively to the field as a whole, but also translate to added opportunity for the threat against protected health information (PHI).
Compliance officers have an integral role in the protection of data within our healthcare system, often responsible for ensuring regulations are followed, patients’ information is protected, and security is maintained. If healthcare compliance is where you’re looking to grow or start your career, Seattle University’s advanced degree program can help get you there. Our Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in compliance and risk management offers a healthcare concentration that opens doors for our students to not only achieve a post-bachelor’s degree, but learn a speciality that will make them more marketable as employees post-graduation.
Compliance Officers: Then and Now
The role of compliance officers has always been the same:
- Develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs
- Ensure that their organization adheres to all applicable policies, laws, and regulations
- Help organizations stay within legal and ethical boundaries
What does this mean on a day-to-day basis? A compliance officer either needs to create and implement compliance programs based on regulations – such as those surrounding HIPAA – or make sure that the compliance programs are robust enough and in line with necessary protocols. As industries shift and regulatory landscapes change, compliance officers ensure that any new regulations or best practices have are incorporated into existing compliance programs. Improving compliance practices is an important aspect of the job description.
Regulatory compliance officers also make sure that employees are trained and understand those regulations. This facet is important – as employees join the company, their training program must include what the law requires and what is impermissible. As the laws change, employees should be educated on what those changes are and how it affects their work. Additionally, regular training on the regulations that impact the work of the organization is always helpful to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Compliance officers must establish an open line of communication with employees so that a system breach is reported and assessed for damage and efficient solutions, and compliance breaches are swiftly dealt with.
Healthcare compliance incorporates additional details. A healthcare facility must ensure that all medical documentation and claims submissions are properly stored. Any employee conflicts of interest must be assessed for risk. Outside vendors that work with the healthcare organization, whether companies or contractors, must also be aware and compliant with patient care standards and remain within the guidelines of the law.
These duties of chief compliance officers and their department remain relevant even as new threats have (and will continue) to emerge. Maintaining compliance has become a position of innovation – of staying a few steps ahead of every disingenuous actor. Whether at government agencies, hospitals, healthcare nonprofits, or private health practices, the role of compliance officers remains important, integral, and ever-evolving when it comes to healthcare.
The Journey Towards Compliance
So how do certified professional compliance officers break into a role in healthcare compliance?
For this career path, a bachelor’s degree is an excellent starting point. Business, risk management, healthcare administration, or anything related to the field can lead to a successful compliance career. Upon graduation, obtaining a master’s degree in healthcare compliance is a specialized step that helps boost employability in the market. Students can become certified in healthcare research or healthcare compliance. There are compliance organizations in which to gain this certification, such as the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Many educational paths may help someone become a compliance officer, but Seattle University School of Law is a clear, direct option. Our master’s program boasts a variety of benefits for our students:
- A master’s degree not only in compliance and risk management but with a healthcare concentration that allows for specialization
- An online program that gives our students flexibility in fitting their education journey within their lives
- A faculty of experienced legal educators and adjunct professors drawn from Seattle’s leading businesses – who offer live office hours and virtual connection and networking options for our online students
- A valuable degree for individuals looking to advance in their careers, preparing our students to lead compliance efforts in any organization and industry
A Growing Field
Need for compliance officers is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of compliance officers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033. About 34,400 openings for compliance officers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. This adds another attractive layer to an already innovative career – job security, at a time when we’ve seen the ebbs and flows of the job market, is a great motivator. There will always be healthcare organizations and people who need their PHI protected. There will always be regulations and government agencies regulating how to protect patients, and advocacy groups and organizations working to increase that care. As a result, compliance officers are always needed.
Seattle University School of Law can get you to the career of your dreams. Apply today or contact us with any questions to get started.
