Concepts of Health Information Management

Answer

Discussion 1

If I were informed that I would have to eliminate three positions in the Health Information Management Department that I manage, there is a lot that I will do before getting rid of the three employees. First, I will appreciate the fact that the news would come as a shock to the affected employees. I will repeatedly acknowledge the fact that the suggested decision is important both to the organization and the departmental staff at large. I will create sessions to talk to the employees at a personal level and make them understand the underlying situations that facilitated the decision. By creating such a close connection, the affected employees will feel that I understand their concerns and will be more willing to give me opinions and possible options that they feel can compensate their sudden loss, even if it means referring them to another department or organization.

Since it is obvious that this change will not be well accepted, certain resistance is anticipated from them. However, through guidance and the willingness to walk the journey of job loss and seeking together, the impact will be much reduced. As highlighted in literature, resistance to change happens due to various factors: varying perceptions, conservatism, self-interest and anxiety about the unknown, and suspiciousness. That is why counselling is important to reduce the level of depression and anxiety and providing possible alternatives to remedy the situation.

Since there is only one available opening, meeting the employees individually will help me assess the best candidate for the single position. Having worked as their manager, I can readily assess each person’s competency level. While meeting them, I would inform them about the available job position within the department and urge each one of them to apply if interested. I would also give them a list of other openings within the entire organization so that whoever fails to be considered in the available position at my departmental level can try their luck in other sections.

Having been there manager for a while, I know the level of strength each one of them contains and the unique skills for work delivery. This strategy can also help me select the best candidate that suits the position. By understanding their areas of interest, I can easily help the other two get attached to a place that allows them hit their full potential. By engaging each of the affected employee, they will be able to appreciate my efforts of looking out for them and want the best for them as well.

After giving all the available job offerings, I will write a unique recommendation letter to help in job search. It is important for all managers to provide a letter of recommendation to employees to act as their referees once deployed in a different field. This strategy is significant especially to employees who just suffered a sudden loss job as it reduces the level of stress and gives more reassurance for a better career journey. 

Discussion 2- Question 2

There is much I have learnt from the video. First, regarding the issue of dress code, I got to understand why pulling business casual is significant for business growth. The identification badge recognizes a person as an employee within the HIM department of the facility. The department is fully secured purposely to keep unauthorized people from accessing the section. Appropriate details, names and descriptions are accorded in every employee’s badge. The video is very interesting as it provides a glimpse of hospital procedures and how they align with the HIM department.  This hospital unit creates healthcare efficiency by reducing the confusions of electronically documented patient information, and the variations between medical record numbers and patient account numbers for every hospital unit they visit. Reducing such confusions definitely inhibits medical errors. Each day, a HIM official goes around and collects any paper records necessary for patient discharge. The documents are compiled and schemed into the system electronically.

The goal of HIM is to fully transform healthcare into technological changes and positively impact on care delivery. According to Ruth, the scanning technician, it is a stepwise procedure that requires full cooperation from both the physicians, nurses, doctors, and the HIM department team at large. The video allows viewers to practically understand the role of HIM in medical department and appreciate why coordination goes a long way in improving efficacy. Clearly, the culture exhibited in the video is collaborative. There is a lot one has to pick from the whole experience. The HIM department is built on a high discipline level and a properly functioning team that is willing to foster a more collaborative working environment. Generally, the video is particularly important to students partaking HIM courses as it sheds light on the dos and the don’ts once in the outside market, and an overview of the critical procedures exhibited.