Update on who’s who in compliance

The purpose of UC Davis Health System’s Compliance Program is to maintain and enhance quality of care by helping to prevent and detect violations of state and federal health-care laws and regulations. The program aims to help employees make the right choices and demonstrate to both internal and external customers the organization’s continued commitment to making proper and ethical decisions.

Following are the individuals now occupying key positions in the Compliance Program:

• Allan D. Siefkin, Chief Medical Officer, assumed the role of Health System Compliance Officer in September 2005, replacing Rory Jaffe. Dr. Siefkin has extensive billing compliance experience having led the Health System through the Physicians at Teaching Hospital (PATH) audit. Teresa Porter is the manager of the Compliance Office. Carole Morris joined the Compliance Office as lead supervisor, bringing a wealth of experience in patient billing. The Compliance Office is located on the third floor of the Sherman Building and is available by telephone for consultation or questions in regard to the clinical enterprise code of conduct at (916) 734-8808.

• Anna Orlowski, hospital legal counsel, assumed the role of the health system’s privacy officer upon the departure of Rory Jaffe, who assumed his new role at the University of California, Office of the President. Orlowski’s role as the privacy officer is supported by the Compliance Office and the UC Davis Health System Privacy & Security Committee. HIPAA requires an individual to be identified as a Privacy Official, and Orlowski’s extensive involvement with the HIPAA implementation in her role as Health System legal counsel has made this a natural transition. If you have privacy questions or concerns, call (916) 734-8808.

• David Harry, Assistant Director, Information & Communication Services, is the health system’s security officer. Just as the privacy role is required by HIPAA, so is the requirement to have an individual named as the official security officer. Harry has been fulfilling his role as the security officer for several years and continues to provide excellent innovative and practical measures associated with security requirements. The security officer is supported by the Compliance Office and the UC Davis Health System Privacy and Security Committee. If you have security concerns or questions, the best way to address them is to contact the Information & Communication Services Help Desk at (916) 734-HELP or (916) 734-4357.