Home Health & Hospice Week

Question: While creating the compliance plan, some of our employees have gotten nervous, asking whether we are seeking out wrongdoing and they are worried that we'll target them. How do we explain that the compliance plan isn't a witch hunt?

Answer: Your organization should make a commitment to a culture of compliance, in which employees are encouraged to stay compliant so the company continues running smoothly -- not as a way to get anyone in trouble.

"Each employee should feel empowered to identify possible issues and bring those matters to the compliance officer's attention," says attorney Martie Ross with Spencer Fane Britt & Browne in Overland Park, Kan. That requires you to clearly communicate those expectations, provide appropriate training, maintain and promote reporting mechanisms, and promptly respond to employees' questions and reported concerns.

To continue the compliance culture, employees should be encouraged to participate in professional organizations to learn from their peers.