What term describes adherence to established rules and regulations?

The term that best describes adherence to established rules and regulations is compliance. This concept refers to the action of conforming to or following the prescribed laws, guidelines, and standards set forth by governing bodies or organizations. In healthcare administration, compliance is critical because it ensures that practices meet statutory and regulatory requirements, thereby promoting patient safety, quality of care, and ethical standards.

Understanding compliance is essential for health administrators as it helps mitigate risks associated with legal penalties, financial losses, and damage to an organization's reputation. It also involves maintaining awareness of various regulations, such as HIPAA for patient privacy or OSHA for workplace safety, and implementing systems that uphold these regulations effectively.

While accountability involves being responsible for actions and outcomes, governance refers to the structures and processes for decision-making and policy implementation. Oversight relates more to the monitoring and supervision of processes or activities. Therefore, compliance specifically captures the essence of following established rules and regulations.