Contact: Jacquelyn Spruce
Phone: (210) 567-0414
E-mail: sprucej@uthscsa.edu

KNIGHT
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Due to frequent changes in policies and procedures from both The University of Texas System and governmental agencies, President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., recently announced that modifications designed to help employees better understand compliance rules and regulations are being implemented at the Health Science Center. The institutional compliance office has been renamed the office of compliance and consultation, and is designed to enhance communication and keep employees informed about compliance issues.

“Many of these regulations have gray areas,” said Gayle Knight, C.P.A., assistant vice president for compliance and consultation. “We’re redesigning our processes so that employees can feel more comfortable calling our office to ask for interpretations. We’re not here to find problems; we’re here to address them and help employees to learn how to avoid them. For example, the office will survey other institutions or regulatory agencies to see how they interpret the regulations and see how they should apply to the Health Science Center.”

Knight said the office is reclassifying two positions to provide more positive feedback on how to improve operations and provide guidance to the institution.

The reclassified positions include a compliance consultant, who will assist the Medical School departments with enhancing faculty documentation for patient services to ensure the highest level of revenue is obtained; and the regulatory compliance specialist will be more proactive in observing and communicating changes in federal compliance regulations.

“Rules change so fast that it’s hard to keep up with them all,” Knight said. “So, we’re constantly trying to do that for our employees. The individuals who hold the reclassified positions will facilitate and communicate the changes to the departments and provide training, if necessary.”

When there are changes in regulations, it often impacts faculty members and what they are doing, Knight said.

“We want to meet with them to give them the chance to discuss how they can come in compliance with the changes in regulations,” she said. “Our goal is to try to find a middle point where the employee is satisfied, yet our institution is still in compliance. Getting feedback on these issues is the best way to implement new compliance requirements.

Knight said rules have become so complicated that if the Health Science Center is out of compliance, the government not only assesses penalties against the institution, but individuals within the organization, as well. There are now more personal liabilities.

A quarterly newsletter designed by the office of compliance and consultation will be sent campus-wide as another way to communicate with employees. The first edition was distributed earlier this month. Compliance Outlook updates the campus on federal regulations such as clinical billing, research and any new rules that are being proposed. A section featuring national headlines shows what has occurred with other institutions, helping the Health Science Center to avoid erroneous situations.

“I hope our changes open communication among departments and faculty members’ concerns about new regulations or developing policies and procedures,” Knight said. “The office of compliance and consultation will always be available to help employees.”