Question

The role of Compliance Officer can vary based on organizational needs and individual experiences and backgrounds. Susan is a Compliance Officer for a large hospital that operates as a trauma center. Her background is in case and quality management, and she is a trained nurse. Do you think that a Compliance Officer should have a clinical background such as a Nurse or Physician? Or should he or she have an administrative background with experience in management? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

The compliance officer should be a person who has knowledge in many areas such as clinical activities, administration, daily operations, risk management and a good knowledge of the laws and regulations to help the healthcare organization to comply with them. The compliance officer’s main responsibility is to ensure that the health care organization is conducting its operations in full adherence with all the laws (national or international) and the regulations that pertains to the health care industry. This is the basis of the standard operating procedures in the health care sector. The professional code of conduct is also built on these standards.

It is pertinent to say that a compliance officer with only a clinical background such as a nurse or a physician will not suffice to be a compliance officer. The reason is because though they might be good in their medical practice, they might not have sound knowledge of managing and operating things efficiently and effectively in compliance with the laws and regulations. That is why it is important that the compliance officer should have an administrative background with experience in management. Since a compliance officer should ensure that the daily activities of a healthcare organization need to abide by the laws, regulations and policies, it is highly essential the compliance officer is good at administration and is effective in management. Thus, a compliance officer should have an administrative background with experience in management.