Question

In a Word Document, answer the following questions. You may copy/paste the questions into your document and then add your responses. Use complete sentences and answer in enough detail that someone with no prior knowledge could understand the concept! Cite any resources you may use to answer these questions. This assignment is worth 25 points.

1. Evaluate the role of active listening when communicating change initiatives.

2. Explain the differences between negotiating change initiatives and collaborating with change initiatives.

3.Create a plan for approaching a critical conversation that needs to take place as a result of conflict.

4. Discuss why it is important for an HIM manager to have an understanding of employment laws.

5. Explain the difference between HIPAA and COBRA when providing continuing health insurance coverage for employees.

Answer 1

1. Evaluate the role of active listening when communicating change initiatives.

A communication technique that requires the listener to understand, interpret, recount and evaluate what they hear. It is a structured way of listening and responding to others, focusing the attention on the speaker.

Changes in healthcare occur so rapidly, they are less likely to be predictable. The only sustainable competitive advantage today is the ability to change, adapt, and evolve - and to do it better than the competition., the change in health services entails incremental improvement on existing organizational capabilities, more empowerment to the changing agents and continuous support to the changing leaders.

Thus for the application of change and for assuring a successful change active listening is an essential component. Through active listening and communication employees want to understand why change is happening and how they will be affected. Thus an organization can implement the change up to the highest level.

2. Explain the differences between negotiating change initiatives and collaborating with change initiatives?

In response to the internal and contextual factors, organizations may seek to collaborate with other health care providers. If so, they may select among major alternative forms of collaboration (i.e., mergers, alliances, and joint ventures), which, following Bazzoli et al. (2004), Processes of organizational change and implementation unfold as organizations aim to achieve their desired ends. Finally, these change processes result in a variety of outcomes.

Negotiating Change

Selling plans and ideas to others by creating a desirable and challenging vision of the future. Negotiating with key players for resources, for changes in procedures, and to resolve the conflict.

3. Create a plan for approaching a critical conversation that needs to take place as a result of conflict?

Get permission  $\large \rightarrow$ Explain the situation and context  $\large \rightarrow$ Frame the conversation gracefully $\large \rightarrow$ State issue $\large \rightarrow$ Ask for their perspective  $\large \rightarrow$ Arrive at a mutual understanding  $\large \rightarrow$ Arrive at a resolution.

4. Discuss why it is important for a HIM manager to have an understanding of employment laws?

Local, state and federal laws are in place relating to employment in the United States. These laws are of great importance because they offer protection to both the employee and the employer.

Protection of Employee

In the United States, most employees and employers operate under what is known as a master-servant relationship. The employee, the servant, is expected to perform his duties under the supervision and for the good of the employer, the master, under this type of work relationship. However, employers, if left unchecked, sometimes abuse their power. Employment laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act are designed to balance out the master-servant relationship so that the employer cannot abuse or discriminate against the employee. Under these and additional labor laws, workers have the right to fair compensation, an equal opportunity for hire and a safe work environment.

Protection of Employer

The purpose of most labor laws in the United States is not to abolish the master-servant relationship, but rather to make it more equal and ensure that all individuals have the same opportunity to enter into such a relationship. Additionally, a key principle of capitalism is that businesspeople should have the opportunity to engage in commerce that could result in profits. Thus, some labor laws seek to protect the rights of the employer. For instance, employers don't have to hire someone they don't feel is qualified, and it is within the employer's rights to expect that employees show up on time and perform the duties for which they were hired. These laws ultimately protect the employer's productivity and, therefore, profits, as well as the ability to remain competitive in the marketplace.

Thus HIM managers need to understand and be familiar with employment laws because acting within the law, following the company’s policies, and avoiding liability is all part and parcel of the manager’s job duties.

6. Explain the difference between HIPAA and COBRA when providing continuing health insurance coverage for employees?

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and COBRA stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

COBRA allows former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children to obtain continued health insurance coverage at group rates that otherwise might be terminated or to continue participating in their employer's group health coverage after losing their jobs. While these individuals will likely pay more for health insurance coverage through COBRA than they would have as an employee (as a result of the fact that the employer no longer pays a portion of the premium costs), COBRA coverage is typically less expensive than an individual health insurance plan would be.

It's important to note that COBRA is a health insurance coverage program and plans may cover costs toward prescription drugs, dental treatments, and vision care. It does not include life insurance and disability insurance.

HIPAA simplifies the task of qualifying for coverage after finding new employment. This law includes important protections for people who have preexisting medical conditions or might suffer discrimination in health coverage based on a factor that relates to an individual’s health.

HIPAA established standards and safeguards for documentation and transmission of health record information to assure the privacy and security of this data. The came about mainly because of abuses of patient privacy that have occurred in many places.HIPAA regulations override all state laws that define and regulate patient privacy