Comparison of P&P and SOP

Policy & Procedure (P&P)

 

OR

 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)




WCM FRAMEWORK

 

  • Clear and concise statement(s) outlining requirements for compliance with laws, regulations, and organizational expectations.

 

 


 

PURPOSE

 

INTERNAL FRAMEWORK

 

  • Internal set of specific instructions to perform repetitive procedures.

 

  • Guides compliance with a P&P.

 

  • Standardizes step-by-step processes, workflows, instructions, and guidelines specific to departmental needs.




ALL WCM OR LARGE GROUPS

 

  • Applies to the entire WCM community or large groups of WCM workforce members.

 

  • May apply to affected individuals who include patients, customers, contractors, and other non-employees impacted by the policy.

 
APPLICABILITY

LIMITED

 

  • Specific WCM department/group

 

  • Limited WCM workforce members

 

  • Never applies to individuals external to WCM




MANDATORY COMPLIANCE

 

  • WCM and its workforce members are bound by the standards established in P&Ps.

 

  • Workforce members will be held accountable for compliance with applicable P&Ps.

 

  • Non-compliance may be subject to corrective/disciplinary action.

AUTHORITY/ ENFORCABILITY

GUIDANCE

 

  • Used for guidance, establishing best practices, reference, and internal departmental education/training.

 

  • Flexibility in adherence to the standards/expectations in SOPs.




AUTHORTATIVE/HIGH LEVEL

 

  • High-level -- establish the minimum requirements and expectations for compliance.

 

  • Use binding language (e.g., “must,” “shall,” “required,” “obliged,”).

 

TIP - Draft P&Ps with the expectation they will undergo regulatory/legal scrutiny.

LANGUAGE STYLE

SUGGESTIVE/DETAILED

 

  • Narrowly tailored to provide detailed instructions.

 

  • Suggestive language, industry-specific terminology/jargon, and specific individual names/contact information can be used (e.g., “should,” “may,” “can,” “usually”).




WCM CWID USERS/GENERAL PUBLIC

 

  • P&Ps will be posted on the Intranet -- accessible to all CWID users.

 

  • Certain P&Ps will be posted on the Internet, accessible to the public, depending on regulatory requirements.

ACCESSIBILITY

RESTRICTED

 

  • Accessibility is restricted to only a group or set of individuals subject to the SOP.

 

  • Should be posted on the SOP owner’s department site or maintained internally.




FORMAL

 

  • P&Ps are subject to routine formal institutional review and approval.

 

  • At a minimum, biannual review is required.

REVIEW & APPROVAL

INFORMAL

 

  • SOPs can be created or revised independently.

 

  • Should be approved as determined by department leadership.

 

 

Submit Compliance Incident

Weill Cornell Medicine Compliance & Privacy Office 575 Lexington Avenue, 9th Fl New York, NY 10022 Phone: (866)-293-3077