Healthcare Compliance and Barriers to the Implementation of Healthcare IT Initiatives Across the Continuum of Care

Abstract

Small physician practices, rural health providers, and other non-acute providers of health services across the continuum of care face unique challenges when implementing and maintaining compliance programs. The complexity of the US healthcare system and recent initiatives to promote the quality and efficiency of healthcare through technology has presented new opportunities and problems. Providers of healthcare services must ensure that they stay up to date and in compliance with regulations and changing technological requirements in order to remain competitive in today’s fast-changing healthcare delivery system.

The following article will explore various technology related compliance initiatives and the barriers to implementing them in small, rural, and non-acute care environments. Part I will provide an overview of the history of medicine, healthcare compliance and the ever-increasing effects of technology on healthcare compliance. Part II will introduce some standards and legislation that have, are, or will soon affect practice at the Federal level. Part III will focus on legislation in the state of Arkansas and the challenges specific to providing quality care in a rural, southern state. Part IV will explore the particulars of and implications of broad new initiatives to promote interoperability in healthcare information exchange. Part V will discuss how and why some areas of health care lag behind when it comes to implementing new requirements. Part VI will draw conclusions and make recommendations of how to solve some of the present barriers and how to better assimilate new practices into old systems to keep pace with the changing face of healthcare compliance and interoperability.