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.
Question 1:
Is requiring new employees to work on site for a minimum of six months necessary? Why or why not?
Question 2:
Identify the changes that Sophie will have experienced in the 20 years that she has been an HIM professional and why she may struggle with these changes.
Worksheet
: Using the worksheet in content,
document your answers and submit to the appropriate assignment
folder prior to the posted due date and time.