ETHICS 101 MEDICAL FIELD
Ever thought about the business ethics relating to billing, transcription or coding? What are ethics? They are a set of moral principles and for our purposes, they are the rules of conduct recognized to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc., in this case professional ethics.
Let’s look at some of the ethical standards in the related fields of healthcare. Since MTs, billers, coders, and medical office personnel are certainly directly in the pipeline of patient information management, here are a few things to think about.
- Confidential management of patient information
- High standards for transcription practices such as encrypting files before sending, not having files sit on a computer unprotected, shredding patient information that may have been printed, having a locked file cabinet for any disks that may contain patient information, and even having a lock on the office door
- Continue professional growth to enhance knowledge and skill set
- Keep abreast of the HIPAA Law relating to patient information and make sure your practice, or business are in compliance
- Commitment to rapid response in the need for distribution of patient information so that efforts to close time gaps work since lives may hang in the balance
- Commit to the need for medical records that are as close to correct as possible
- Learn the facts about correct coding policies (and the law)*
- If involved in the billing/payment process, use integrity to do a good and honest job of it
*Accurate coding must reflect exactly what happened during a provider-patient encounter. Coders never up-code to gain a higher payment advantage.
In the MT field, it isn’t unusual to hear about unfair competition, for example, inducing customers you work on for your employer to leave and come over to you as your customer. That’s unethical. Coders who try to figure higher reimbursement for using the technically incorrect codes are unethical. Any patient professional who provides unauthorized medical information is unethical. Additionally, unethical activities may have serious legal consequences.
WHAT ARE BUSINESS ETHICS?
Abstracted from an article by: Chester Clive (http://www.articlesbase.com)
Business ethics apply to any and all aspects of business conduct, from boardroom strategies to how companies treat their employees, managers, suppliers and even to sales techniques and accounting practices. Ethics go beyond the legal requirements for a company. Ethical matters are an almost daily topic in the news, in business schools, in politics, in the workplace and in our homes. As a business coach, Mr. Clive pays close attention to business ethics and what is written about them since he is a strategic thinking, planning and business coach.
Our personal interpretation of ethics affects our interpersonal relations with others, such as family, friends, neighbors, and fellow workers.
Business ethics examine rules and principles within a commercial context; the various moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business setting; and any special duties or obligations that apply to persons who are engaged in commerce. Implementing an ethics program in an organization accomplishes many things. First, research has found that greater attention to ethics in the workplace has actually improved society overall; for instance, we no longer have to fear poverty due to accidents in the workplace, and our children are no longer forced to work at age 8. Those in the workplace have more rights, and are therefore more productive.
You hear stories of large business fraud to small business embezzlement reported with ever-increasing frequency; unfortunately business ethics are under attack. Political ethics make the daily news.
Clearly then, ethics play an ever increasing role in our society today, and environmental ethics and business ethics should be in the vanguard. The Wall Street melt down a couple of years ago is a great example of serious ethical problems that had a very wide and disastrous impact on our country’s economics. Swindles are so popular that people make their living at them.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
By Julie C:
I started the Medical Transcription program in November of 2010. Here it is, March 2011, and I am almost ready to graduate the program. Like any 18-year-old, I was ready to graduate and go to college. I went to college for one semester. It wasn’t for me, just like it isn’t for a lot of people. After I withdrew I worked for a bit to keep myself busy but I knew that if I didn’t get back to learning soon, I would go crazy! So I looked online at different schools and found Meditec. They had a ton of courses and different things to offer. They also made it easy to get information with staff that got back to me within at least one day. I chose Meditec because of the resources that were at hand, the helpfulness of the staff and the topics of courses to choose from. I chose Medical Transcription because I love to type and my favorite subject in school was science, so I knew that the topic would never get old for me. I am now 100% confident that I will succeed with a job I love all thanks to Meditec!
Instructor Response: Julie, we are so proud of your progress in the MT course. You have already passed your dictation exam. In just 5 short months you are ready to work. Way to go! We are glad that you chose Meditec for your training needs and have been happy with the program. Sincerely, Dawn
TIP OF THE DAY
SAVE A LIFE – NEW CPR TECHNIQUE – CONTINUOUS CHEST COMPRESSION: Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5huVSebZpM
NEW COURSE: PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IS NOW AVAILABLE –
http://www.meditec.com/online-training-course/pharmacy-technician-training-course/
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
This month it’s about quick and easy!
- 2 large cans of Campbell’s Chunky Sirloin Burger soup
- 3 cups of white rice, cooked.
Drain the soup a little, and pour over the hot cooked rice. Microwave until hot. Serve with saltine crackers or buttered bread and a fresh garden salad. This recipe is quick and easy for busy, working students!
MARCH POSITIVES
What you think about and focus on today creates your future. Thoughts are actually energy. So, choose your thoughts wisely and focus on the best ones. What you think about with focused intensity tends to manifest in your life. You have aligned yourself with a particular set of thoughts (energies) and what ensues is that you naturally attract people, situations, and opportunities that support those thoughts.
Try this: Do a thought inventory at the end of each day. If you find that you are focusing on worry thoughts, make an effort to use positive affirmations to change what you run through your mind on a daily basis. Think and feel the best outcomes. What you think about and focus on is a choice. We all have some negative thoughts from time to time. The trick is not to focus on the negatives, but dig out and see the pictures of the positives. Invite them into your mind, acknowledge them, and then make a choice to think the thoughts that support where you want to go in life.
FUNNY STUFF – WORDS & PHRASES
Word origins and traditions are intriguing. Why are flowers so traditional with weddings? You may be surprised at the answer: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. Jari D, Wordsmith
DON’T FORGET STUDENT REFERRALS
How would you like to help a friend and earn $100 in the process?
With our unique referral program, the person you refer gets 10% off ANY of our training programs and you receive $100 when they enroll. Refer as many people as you like, there is no limit on the reward dollars you can earn.
Read all about it: http://www.meditec.com/student-referral-program/
APRIL’s MONTHLY SPECIAL
Springing into Spring…Our Medical Transcription and Coding Combination Course (MTC) a great way to get into the healthcare workforce.
Special Price is $2950 – it lists for $3687 – save over $700! [Payment plans are available for up to 24 months].
* As an added BONUS, when you pay in full at the time of purchase, you will receive a FREE iPod shuffle.
Go to: http://www.meditec.com/specials/
