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Why should I consider using Affiliated Monitors?
State and federal regulations have become increasingly complex. Licensed professionals often lack the time to keep up with the latest regulatory requirements. Yet, if they don't they could be subject to fines or other sanctions. Affiliated Monitors was created to help licensed professionals protect their practice through:
- An independent and thorough assessment of their compliance needs,
- Development of a compliance program custom-tailored to their particular needs
- Training staff in the elements, implementation and internal oversight of the compliance program.
Affiliated Monitors can also aid those who are subject to regulatory discipline by government agencies by offering alternatives that address and correct regulatory deficiencies, and provide the government agency with independent monitoring of on-going compliance efforts.
If I have never been sanctioned, why should I be interested in using AMI's services?
State and federal regulations are very complicated and change frequently. It costs less and is less time-consuming to retain AMI for a compliance audit that it is to find out when it's too late that you have violated an important regulation. Our programs help to identify areas in which your practice or business may be at risk, and help to create systems and procedures that will reduce and help eliminate those risks. Since regulations are designed to protect the public, a compliance audit can also help ensure that you are doing everything you need to do to protect the public.
How can sanctioned professionals ensure that they will be treated fairly by AMI?
To ensure fair, objective treatment, AMI:
- Provides independent, third-party monitors who have no affiliation with either the professionals they monitor or the government agency responsible for overseeing those professionals
- Uses standardized forms and measures for all compliance monitoring
- Ensures that its Policy and Advisory Board reviews all reports before submission. The board has no contact with the person being monitored.
Why can't state employees do the monitoring?
Many state and federal agencies do not have sufficient qualified staff available to monitor sanctioned professionals. AMI can save state and federal agencies money, time and staff resources by providing objective, independent oversight of sanctioned professionals.
How can the state afford to pay monitors to oversee sanctioned professionals?
The state pays nothing for AMI's services, so we are saving money for state agencies and taxpayers. Sanctioned professionals pay our fees; this creates an incentive for them to comply with state and federal regulations.
Wouldn't it be easier to revoke the license of any professional who is sanctioned? After all, haven't they broken the law?
Remedial programs such as Affiliated Monitors’ compliance, monitoring and hotline services allow licensing and oversight agencies to consider alternatives to license revocation or suspension. Through these programs, the oversight agency has the assurance that those who are assigned to these remedial programs have corrected any deficiencies, and can demonstrate on-going compliance and good faith efforts.
This sounds like a new approach. Has anyone else tried this?
The business model for AMI is based on the Independent Private Sector Inspector General (IPSIG) program developed successfully in New York. IPSIG uses independent, private-sector oversight and monitoring services to ensure compliance with government regulations. IPSIG monitors professionals in the healthcare, accounting and insurance industries, and businesses and individuals that contract with the state government.
Why do I need a compliance manual?
The professional practitioner must meet many different regulatory and administrative needs to operate within the law. A compliance manual provides a single, comprehensive source of information covering all practice regulations, employment policies required by the state and self-auditing procedures to operate a business in a manner that meets industry standards.
What can Affiliated Monitors do for me?
Affiliated Monitors provides a well-rounded and balanced range of services – from its comprehensive compliance programs to its independent monitoring, hotline and credentialing services – that are designed to help professionals and businesses achieve a level of compliance, transparency and integrity that assures the public they meet or exceed regulatory requirements and quality standards.
Why do I need Affiliated Monitors?
AMI specializes in helping professionals and businesses achieve or maintain compliance with government regulations. Noncompliance can lead to costly litigation, sanctions or related problems. Compliance can provide the peace of mind of knowing that your business meets or exceeds government requirements and best practices for your industry.
A friend of mine has agreed to be my monitor. Is that acceptable?
Many state and federal regulators are increasingly unwilling to accept a monitor chosen by the sanctioned professional or business. Because they are obligated to protect the public, they want oversight they can be sure is independent, objective, neutral and reliable.
Why would a government agency delegate its oversight authority to a private company?
Because of budgetary constraints, most governmental and oversight agencies cannot provide the types of services offered by AMI. The professionals who perform our monitoring are in the same field as the professionals they monitor. That type of professional oversight is beyond the capabilities of government oversight agencies. Because AMI’s monitors are highly qualified and enjoy peer respect in their professions, we have earned the trust and respect of licensing boards across the country.
Who are AMI’s monitors?
Our monitors are experienced professionals from the healthcare, legal, accounting, investigative and other professional fields. All are pre-screened and meet strict credentialing requirements.
How can independent monitoring help me?
Many professionals and businesses face disciplinary sanctions from government regulators or insurance carriers, not because they are poor practitioners or business operators, but because they have failed to meet regulatory requirements, which are often complex and difficult to master.
When professionals face disciplinary action, independent monitoring allows them to continue practicing or remain in business while they make the changes necessary to bring them into compliance. In effect, they are acting to ensure the oversight agency that they have taken the corrective steps necessary and can demonstrate compliance – with transparency and reliability. In return, the oversight agency is assured of the independent, objective oversight necessary to protect the public. Both sides win – professionals and business owners improve their practices and regulatory agencies accomplish their public protection goals.
Why do I need a hotline?
To quickly, efficiently and effectively address complaints or concerns raised by staff, clients, customers, patients or others, so that such problems do not escalate. A hotline promotes responsiveness, prevention and proactive company practices.
Why do I need a compliance plan?
Professionals and businesses must meet many different regulatory, administrative and organizational requirements. A compliance plan provides the organization and strategy needed to ensure ongoing compliance with all regulations. The plan should include a centrally organized company manual with all employment policies, in addition to providing the details needed to organize compliance throughout the company. Having all policies in a manual makes it easier to distribute them to current and new employees, and easier to maintain as changes occur. Lack of proper and sufficient organization is often the cause of regulatory problems for many professionals and businesses.
What does a compliance plan include?
AMI’s compliance planning services include three basic components:
- A comprehensive on-site assessment of your practice or business to evaluate your current level of compliance with applicable regulatory and program standards
- Development of a manual containing policies and procedures designed to help your practice or business achieve and maintain full compliance
- Training for you and your staff.
Why is due diligence necessary when hiring staff?
Knowing where your new manager, employee or partner has worked, and knowing the person’s background, can help you identify potential problems or at least provide you with peace of mind, knowing that you have not hired someone whose background or behavior could create problems, potential embarrassment and even lawsuits.
I had a minor matter before a regulatory agency a few years ago and I never want to go through that again. What can AMI do to help me prevent future regulatory actions?
AMI’s programs target areas that are most often the causes of regulatory complaints. Through proactive efforts that include prevention, awareness, organization and an effort to involve each staff member in the compliance process, most professionals and businesses can avoid or prevent the common causes of complaints. In case complaints do arise, we can also help by addressing complaints quickly and effectively – before they become more serious.
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