Question

SAYLES & KAVANAUGH-BURKE CHAPTER 1 PAGE 9

Real-World Case Questions 1

Sophie is the HIM director at Pine Ridge Medical Center. Pine Ridge is part of a five-hospital chain and two health clinics known as Hometown Health. She earned her RHIA certification 20 years ago, prior to any computerization. In fact, the hospital implemented the EHR only six months ago. Sophie is feeling overwhelmed with all of the changes that the EHR has caused and is struggling to adapt. Now the hospital wants to expand the emergency room, which is next door to the HIM department. In order to make space for this expansion, the decision has been made to send the transcriptionists and coders home to work. New employees will have to work at the site for a minimum of 6 months to ensure the quality of their work before being able to work at home. Another reason behind this decision is that Hometown Health plans to centralize the HIM departments of their five healthcare facilities over the next two or three years. This stage would begin the transition to the virtual department.

1. Is requiring new employees to work on site for a minimum of six months necessary? Why or why not?

2. Identify the changes that Sophie will have experienced in the 20 years that she has been a HIM professional and why she may struggle with these changes.

Answer 1

1.Hiring new employee is necessary at this time because the old staffs are sent to work from home also as the organization is planned to be expanded there will be a need of staff in future.So recruiting staffs at this time will give them time period to learn and get accustomed to the work and ensure a smooth function. This can avoid staff shortages too.

2.The changes which she could have encountered over 20 years is the transformation of the documentation from paper work to technology. Advancement making the work simpler easier and quicker now a days which was not possible before 20 years.Privacy and security of patient information enhancement ,simultaneously making necessity for more cyber secured system in an organization. The use of EHR with no adequate knowledge or experience can be challenge and a struggle to be overcome by a HIM professionals