You hear all about workplace policies and procedures, but why do we need them? We need these policies and procedures for the basic reason that without them nothing could be achieved. Organizations would descend into chaos if these two elements did not exist and daily operations would quickly grind to a halt. Policies and procedures reflect the way an organization conducts its day-to-day business. They illuminate what an organization wants to do, why it wants it done, and how to best execute its plan (Sarkissian, n.d.). Policies and procedures must be in place not only for organizations to meet their needs, but also to ensure that they comply with the usual laws and regulations for their prospective business practice. Failure to create and/or follow established organizational guidelines will result in negative outcomes for multiple programs, not only within the company, and with violation of respected laws. Differences between policies and procedures. When determining the difference between a policy and a procedure in a healthcare setting, this is an importance we must understand. Policies are considered the formal method by which a practice conducts its professional activities (Medical Office Procedures, n.d.). An example of this would be a billing policy that states that any balance older than 90 days will automatically be sent to collections. Procedures, on the other hand, are perceived differently. In this case, it is not directly related to actual medical procedures such as office visits or strep samples, known as services performed specifically for a patient on a certain date. Procedures are more inspired by how each strep sample is taken every time for each patient...... middle of paper ...... l, having policies and procedures in the workplace is always a good idea.ConclusionPolicies are the guidelines that we use to regulate organizational affairs. They manage the behavior of people and the actions of a given system. It helps clarify an organization's position on an important issue and explains how the organization plans to conduct its business. While policies are an organization's plan of action and procedures delineate the routine methods of achieving objectives (Sarkissian, s, d.). Procedures describe the necessary steps in order that must be used in order to achieve the policies. Although the two are different, they are essential to any healthcare facility to ensure operational needs are met and legal compliance is established and respected. For organizations that do not implement and follow policies and procedures, financial penalties will be imposed..