Discussions

Professionalism and Professional Behaviors

Christina usher Dec 5, 2015 5:08 PM

Professional workplace behavior is vital for the long-term relationships of

your boss and co-workers. Your attitude and appearance justify how much
pride you take in your work. If you came to work in the same clothes 2 days
in a row or consistently were showing up late and not following the dress
guidelines, nobody would take you seriously. I also think that when dealing
with clients directly, a smile goes a long ways. You never know what
situation other people may be in. When you have a good attitude you can
avoid conflict and make an enjoyable work environment for yourself and
others. Professionalism also limits gossip and inappropriate personal
conversations.
I think if I were faced with an uncomfortable situation I would try to steer
the conversation to take on the positive outlook. I could also be a good
listener. I might not agree with the person, but I would try and understand
the situation they might be in and give them positive feedback.

Impact of HIM functions

Christina usher Dec 9, 2015 11:45 AM

Important HIM functions: The cost and storage of information. HIM

professionals can help their organizations identify what information needs to
be retained for legal and business reasons.
Healthcare organizations must be able to obtain information from multiple
sources and support information exchange.
They need to be able to access diverse information such as improved
patient care models, new opportunities for clinical research, and improved
care processes.
HIM professionals need to support patient safety improvement efforts by

providing accurate and complete data.

Healthcare customers want access to information that is readily searchable.
HIM professionals need to be aware of the legal laws and regulations.
How will your role as an HIM professional be impacted by the
functions of HIM?
By responding to the changes in healthcare and attending all training
meetings, I feel that I will expand my expertise in the field. I will be able to
utilize patient information through data collection, interpreting, and
analyzing health information.
Importance of Health Data Management
Christina usher Dec 15, 2015 6:10 PM

I think the most important thing I have learned throughout the HIT
program is the HIPPA policy and what our job involves in the protection of
patient privacy. I would like to do my practicum on-site but unfortunately I
have not found a place yet so I have been doing the virtual path of learning
throughout this course such as making flash cards, watching assigned
videos, reading assignments and highlighting important parts. The journal
is a great way to keep track of everything you do during the week and
allows you to refer back to objectives. Some of the other things I have
learned are how to plan, organize and facilitate an educational group; read
state and federal laws pertaining to clients; become informed about
diversity in history, culture, beliefs, and values that may enter the
organization I work for and read case files and properly code them.
Health data management's main goal is to promote health and wellness
worldwide. They also provide support for Clinical documentation
improvement (CDI) functions such as identifying and clarifying missing,
conflicting, or nonspecific physician documentation related to diagnoses
and procedures; support accurate diagnostic and procedural coding;
promote health record completion during the patient's course of care;
improve communication between physicians and other members of the
healthcare team; provide education; improve documentation to reflect
quality and outcome scores and improve coders clinical knowledge. Other
things that the health data management needs to be aware of are quality

measurement reports, improved patient engagement opportunities, and

new or enhanced patient care models.
Privacy and Health Information
Christina usher Jan 5, 2016 9:43 AM

Privacy and security of Health Information- With the increased use of

information technology in health care, your medical office must continue to
find ways to maintain the privacy and security of the PHI of patients they
serve. Therefore, storage of protected health information must be kept in a
manner that protects the confidentiality of patients. Medical office staff also
needs to stay up to date on training and authorization to PHI and your
medical office should utilize encryption controls to protect transmitted data
over a network. Above all, follow HIPPA laws in accordance to the state and
federal guidelines.
Activities that could violate or challenge the privacy of Health
Information- Sharing information without authorization, performing tests
and procedures without authorization, and violating the HIPPA laws. Other
challenges include balancing the need to protect information from exposure
while still providing the highest level of patient care. Also, identifying the
applications that have access to PHI, validating whether that access is
appropriate along with the individuals, groups and organizations that are
authorized to use those applications.
Healthcare data collection and research
Christina usher Jan 12, 2016 10:38 AM

As a coder, most of the data collection will be entered in electronic format.

Information entered by coders is related to a survey process. Examples
include the history of calls and visits, mode of collection, administrative
information and cost information. Data collection of coders could also
include timeliness and accuracy.
There are several types of data collected in healthcare. Productivity,
surgical site infections, turnover time, patient satisfaction, medication
safety, hand washing, refrigerator temperatures with patient medications

and food, chart audits, race, gender and age of patients.

I absolutely think that there is value in collecting healthcare statistics for
research purposes. It gives researchers the ability to answer questions and
makes it easier for other researchers to repeat and validate the study.
Statistical methods are often used to communicate research finding and to
support hypotheses and give credibility to research methodology.
Quality management, accreditation, and performance improvement
Christina usher Jan 20, 2016 11:57 AM

In what ways does quality management plan apply to accreditation

standards?
NCQA's (national committee for quality assurance) health plan
accreditation's commitment to research and dedication to quality has
helped improve the managed care experience for health plans, patients,
physicians, and employers. It is the most comprehensive evaluation in the
industry, and the only assessment that bases results of clinical
performance and consumer experience.
It meets employer demands by maximizing the value of healthcare
spending and improving health and healthcare. It meets regulator demands
by containing key elements that follow federal law and regulations for state
health insurance plans and meets consumer demands by comparison
shopping and the quality of the plan.
What quality management and/or performance improvement
activities might you encounter in HIM?
In the workforce, providers must facilitate data collection, recruit and train
staff, process and analyze data, and devote staff time for interpreting data,
providing feedback, and using the findings for improvement activities.
Healthcare professionals must be able to motivate and influence people,
apply information management and statistical analysis skills when
measuring and analyzing performance, and process improvement
techniques to resolve performance challenges.
What are some examples of essential quality assurance and

performance improvement activities?

Use cost benefit analysis to compare costs associated with an investment
with the benefits to choose the best option for a business. Benchmarking to
evaluate and compare project performance for continuous measuring and
improving project efficiency. Come up with a quality management plan to
define the policies, principles, responsibilities, and accountability and how
the team will implement, perform, and measure those policies. Use quality
audits to determine whether project activities comply with the project's
quality policies, processes, and procedures and set quality standards for
prevention of errors, inspection, and tolerances within an acceptable range.
EHR and Health Information Technology
Christina usher Jan 27, 2016 10:05 AM

I have not had as much experience as I'd like on site. Most of my training
has been done through my courses with reading, videos, on-line tours,
discussions and assignments. As we know, the medical community relies
on HIT specialists in all areas of the country and all types of medical
settings such as private practices, hospitals, home health agencies, nursing
homes, mental health facilities and public health agencies. These
healthcare facilities implement new hardware and software systems and
provide training on how to use them. I have had the opportunity to work in
a nursing home for 8 years. Although I didn't get hands on training in the
HIM department, I saw how some of the information was entered into
paper based charts and follow-up information for patients. One of the
biggest advantages that I see in using electronic health records is the
convenient access in managing a large number of patients. Some of the
other advantages include the ability to better protect patient privacy,
organization and the ability to update a record with ease, and reducing the
cost through decreased paper work. Some of the disadvantages of the
electronic health record are the cost of buying electronic devices and the
cost of training to properly access them. Another concern is the flaws in
technology in order to provide physicians with accurate and reliable
records.
Coding Challenges
Christina usher Feb 1, 2016 2:56 PM

One of the challenges for me is determining what root operation to use.

The ones that are most confusing are excision, resection and extraction. I
think that I just need more practice in order to better understand. I need
to locate the table and then place the other characters appropriately. I
need to do ask myself why did the physician do this? By asking this
question, I can determine the root operation that was used.
Roles of the HIM Professional in Medical Billing and Coding
Christina usher Feb 10, 2016 10:45 AM

Medical coding is like translation. It is the coder's job to take a doctor's

diagnosis and translate it as accurately as possible into a numeric or
alphanumeric code. Each part of the doctor's visit is translated into this
code used in the billing process. From here it is passed to the medical
billing department where they take the information and bill the insurance
company. This is then called a claim. Both medical billing and coding work
closely together and are important in the reimbursement cycle to ensure
that healthcare providers are paid for services they perform. My role will be
a medical coder. I will have to research a large number of codes and
understand basic medical terminology to perform my daily duties. I will
also need to obtain data from charts, research codes and enter information
in a computer. In complex medical cases, I must obtain data for multiple
procedures and diagnoses, often from multiple doctors.
Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses as a Manager
Christina usher Feb 18, 2016 3:53 PM

I have never had a desire to be a supervisor or a manager. It just seems

like it would create a huge amount of stress for me. I am the shy quiet type
and just like to go to work and do my job and go home and not think about
it. I feel that there would be so many people complain about ridiculous stuff
and I wouldn't handle confrontation well. I think my best management skills
would be teaching someone how to do something. I love to help others
learn. Some of my other strengths include the ability to work hard and pitch
in wherever I'm needed, and going out of my way to make someones day
better. My greatest weakness would be confronting someone about
something they need to improve on and also going through the termination

process. Another weakness of mine is getting nervous around people I don't

know on a personal level. I think I could improve my weakness by becoming
more confident in my job and learning how to communicate better with
others.
Reflecting on HIM
Christina usher Feb 21, 2016 3:20 PM
The most challenging part for me will be coding and getting the correct approach and qualifier. I
know there are common codes that are used, but there are also going to be several different terms
to master. The most rewarding part will be the opportunity to work in the healthcare field
assisting people. I do think that the practicum has impacted my goals and career focus. It makes
me want to challenge myself and learn even more. I know it's going to be difficult finding a job
without experience and learning all of the policies and procedures as well as learning how
computer systems work once I do accept a job. I have come this far and I'm up for the challenge.
Preparation for the workforce
Christina usher Feb 23, 2016 9:43 AM

One of the first things I did was learn medical terminology and
abbreviations used in the medical field. I took some coding classes and
learned about the guidelines involved as well as modifiers, procedure and
diagnoses codes. I did some research about HIPAA, medical law, and legal
and medical aspects of HIM. I watched videos in regard to the HIM process
such as storing medical records and the breech of privacy. Now I am
starting the job search process to find a medical coding job where I live.
This has not been an easy task because I currently work in production and
do not have much experience in the medical field. I have also created a
resume, cover letter and business card. My next step is to study for the
RHIT certification exam. I have purchased some study material online and
plan to take at least 2 months to prepare for the exam. This will give me a
chance to focus on material that I am not 100% sure of. I will also be able
to practice coding case studies and become more familiar with common
medical terms.