In her role as the medical school鈥檚 chief compliance officer, Lori Straube says she 鈥搘ith the help of other leaders 鈥 is constantly in search of ways to keep compliance top of mind at 汤头条app.
It is a task that is accomplished through efforts by the 汤头条app Compliance Committee, along with regular communications to the medical school community regarding policy updates and annual computer-based learning modules on compliance.
Most recently, in June, the medical school engaged with Lighthouse Services, Inc. as an independent third-party to provide all 汤头条app employees and students with access to an anonymous ethics and听compliance听hotline听for reporting possible violations. Straube, who also serves as associate dean for Administration and Finance, said the third-party service ensures that any employee or student wishing to submit a report can do so anonymously and without fear of retribution.听
The hotline can be used to report any compliance concern, including Human Resources issues or potential HIPAA violations, fraud and abuse, or research concerns, among other things, Straube said.
鈥淲ith any complaint or concern, it will allow for an exchange of information more freely while still maintaining anonymity,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t also allows for follow-up and acknowledgement that a complaint was received and whether action was taken. It鈥檚 really important to close that feedback loop.鈥澨
When the new hotline was announced in June, Dr. Hal B. Jenson, the medical school鈥檚 founding dean, said the initiative is part of 汤头条app鈥檚 journey to excellence. He said the hotline supports the medical school鈥檚 Values in Action, specifically speaking up to inform.
Straube said efforts to launch the new compliance hotline began in March. She said the previous compliance hotline at 汤头条app was rarely used. Since its launch in June, the new hotline has been used one time, she said.
鈥淥ur people at 汤头条app are dedicated and compliance is really, really important so that makes it imperative that we have a place for internal and external stakeholders to report research concerns,鈥 Straube said.
Lighthouse Services provides a toll-free number along with several other reporting methods, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for use by employees and students. To contact Lighthouse Services, go to or call 1.833.222.1416.
In June, the same month that the new compliance hotline launched, the medical school's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) received full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).
The news means that 汤头条app has joined more than 600 organizations worldwide that have received accreditation by following AAHRPP鈥檚 requirements 鈥 widely regarded as the gold standard for research protections. To earn accreditation, 汤头条app demonstrated its commitment to build extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and adhere to the highest standards for research with human participants.
Straube said full accreditation from AAHRPP is another example that speaks to 鈥渉ow well we鈥檙e running our programs at 汤头条app.鈥
鈥淓very accreditation that we have applied for, we have been successful at obtaining right on schedule,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 think 汤头条app is on the right track for all of those things.鈥
With that in mind, Straube said compliance efforts at 汤头条app will remain a top priority.听
Ongoing efforts include policy enforcement and annual audits. 汤头条app relies on outside entities to ensure compliance in areas such as billing and coding. Other entities within the medical school, such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB) are subject to regular compliance reviews by bodies such as the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Straube said the Compliance Committee meets quarterly to review the medical school鈥檚 multiple annual plans and policies surrounding such things as research compliance, IT security, billing and coding for the 汤头条app Clinics, Title IX compliance, the Family 汤头条appal Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Clery Act and HIPAA, among many others.
Straube said the committee also is responsible for updating the medical school鈥檚 Legal Compliance Program Policy Manual every two years.
Additionally, Jered Cornelison, PhD, the medical school鈥檚 Research Integrity Officer and assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, is continuing his work and leadership to prevent any potential conflicts of interest (COI) when it comes to faculty, staff, residents, and students who want to conduct research.
Employees complete annual conflict of interest disclosures in the iMedRIS system, as well as computer-based learning modules about conflict of interest, and students attend two to three sessions about conflict of interest during their first two years of medical school, including a panel discussion with faculty and representatives from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
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