When a healthcare quality professional identifies a gap in practice from regulatory requirements, the first step should be to understand the root cause of the non-compliance. This involves meeting with the staff to determine the barriers to compliance12.
Understanding the barriers to compliance: This involves engaging with the staff who are directly involved in the area where the gap has been identified. The staff can provide insights into the challenges they face in adhering to the regulatory requirements. This could include issues such as lack of resources, inadequate training, or unclear procedures12.
Developing a plan to address the barriers: Once the barriers have been identified, the healthcare quality professional can work with the staff and management to develop a plan to address these barriers. This could involve providing additional resources, improving training, or clarifying procedures12.
Monitoring and evaluating progress: After the plan has been implemented, it's important to monitor and evaluate progress. This could involve conducting audits to assess the rate of compliance and making adjustments to the plan as necessary12.
By taking this approach, the healthcare quality professional can ensure that the organization is not only compliant with regulatory requirements but also that the staff are equipped to maintain this compliance in the future12.
Reference: 1: Competency Framework | NAHQ 2: Workforce Competencies for Healthcare Quality Professionals: Leading Quality-Driven Healthcare | NAHQ