Baby Daze [Part One]

...5/28/02: Ann returns to work, ready to do the Rounds, told Mike that she rested most of the weekend...traffic on Lomas at UNM at 6:30 AM consisted of one vehicle going each way...5/29/02: Ann brings her husband to a court hearing on his unpaid fines...5/30/02: Ann late due to accident on I-25 (not her)...5/31/02: Ann leaves early in the PM to help her ex-spouse (who cannot read) get a job as a dishwasher in the hospital cafeteria...6/1/02: Ann's current spouse is in an accident on the race track...his temper ignites and he starts fighting with the driver who struck him...the other driver just wanted to apologize, but in the end Ann's husband was disqualified from racing the rest of the night...he was also fined $30, which will be taken out of any future prize winnings...now Ann's ex-hubby wants her to give him a ride to work, which means she would have to start her drive 30 minutes earlier than she does...the woman is a saint and the two men in her life should be shot!...she has contemplated working a second job, also at the hospital...Ann also applied for higher level coding position...she does not get an interview...

...6/5/02: the area is in chaos, as it gets redesigned...the bad news is that the plan designs do not match the actual space available...the battle of floor plans vs. floor reality...that begins the day of delays, talking, phoning, worrying & making the modifications, but not making decisions...being slightly deaf helps survive this madness...by 6/7/02: the new area is completed, and all the office furniture has arrived...our area is untouched, except that a file cabinet is in front of our entrance...when the drawers are open, we cannot (easily) get out...I cannot see anyone beyond my work area due to the higher walls...a week later, and they are still trying to arrange & settle in...I take walks during my break, and longer strolls at lunch time...I am now trying to keep a log of daily activities at work, from 1/22/02 to the present...I have not had much time to do so (read on to find out why!)...

...6/6/02: Ann has second seizure in two days, did not come to work...at home, she was overcome by the heat of her jacuzzi & heaved..Mike did the Rounds on the day that a new doctor is on the floor, thereby having to create new billing forms...Geri was sent to help, but Mike had to give her a refresher course in Newborn Nursery & Daily Baby forms...Geri had problems accessing Ravel & Brahms...and PowerChart was down during the day...6/7/02: Ann retuns, not looking completely recovered, and Mike does the Rounds again...many patients have been transferred from PICU or PSAC to GPU & 3-E...I know, I know, it's company jargon...Rosanne let Ann & Mike out at 3 PM...6/11/02: Ann says she swallowed 3 bottles of aspirin, including EXCEDRIN Migraine, and to call the E/R if she collapses at her work station...she next uses my PC to E-mail vicious comments to a Duke City Raceway driver...then she says she has more pills and will continue taking them...finally she sits with a waste basket in front of her, just in case she vomits...I encourage her to get some air; after a while, I get a call saying she is in E/R, Room 10...I arrive to see her still clutching a bed pan, crying...her husband arrives...at 2:45 she is still in E/R...Ann told Geri that she will be in the next day, for she can't afford to be sick, although Ann has been out at least one day a week for the last several weeks...mistakes have been made by her on various billing sheets...Mike's opinion of Ann has lowered during the first week in June...Fate is weaving a twisted tale...contact with Brad was maintained via E-mail...no phone calls; did not trust saying anything that other employees might hear...5% of the general public is mentally ill...6/12/02: both Ann & Rosanne are ill...a coder from Diagnostics, Lisa, uses Ann's desk, while waiting for her own work space...Brad came in to help look up ICD codes...some procedures may have to be streamlined...

...6/13/02: no Lisa (who is using Geri's PC), no Ann, no Geri (2 day vacation), no update, no news, no answers, just Brad & Mike doing the Rounds, coding & answering questions, while Rosie does the dictation...Doris, the Clinic Manager, introduced Dr. Knott (a brother) to myself, and I introduced Brad as a student (which is true)...when Dr. Knott & I spoke again, on 6/14/02, he called me by my first name (it's the fact that he took the time to remember it!)...we then tried to figure out insurance paperwork that was received at Pediatrics...we had some of the pieces of the puzzle, but not all...Dr. Fahl brought some green I/P consultation cards; Brad coded them and orange ones that we had received...Rosie later says that Ann (?) called in sick this morning...and Rosanne never brought up the subject, and I did not ask...she also knew that Brad was with me since he answered the phone...Brad left at 11...there is a greenbar report received by doctors on a monthly basis...I learned very quickly about its contents, since I was asked questions by Dr., Rose, Dr. Annett, Dr. DeTucci & Dr. Walden...my response was, talk to Rosanne or MIS...it lists the charges by CPT code, the actual charge & the service date...I also found that there is a census report to list all activity on the doctor who is attending at GPU & 3-E, something even Geri did not know...

...Ann is thought highly by many of the doctors...

...6/13/02: in the afternoon, I heard that familiar phrase: Mike can help you...I fielded questions from Dr. Cordova, Dr. Marsh, Dr. Hsi, Dr. Hoffman, plus returned claims from Dr. Archuleta...

...Ann's ex is fired from the job she got for him!...

...life is uneasy at work...do areobics while waiting for the bus...Brad helps do the Rounds on 6/13/02 & 6/14/02...all this & Mike has a BP check on 6/14/02...the results: 147/117, which is not good, but no different than other readings in the last two years...the nurse agreed that there was one way to relieve my tension...6/17/02: receive a call from my doctor...I see him on 6/18/02 at 3 PM because of the BP findings, which actually go down in spite of the chaos...it is 131/112...I explain the current work situation (see around this page), and we will see what the reading is on the 7/8/02 scheduled visit...

...Ann's reputation has been tarnished, but she will probably blame others, and many people...Ann had spoken to Rosanne, asking if we could leave early on Friday...this from a person who had been out sick on Thursdays...I wonder if Rosanne is keeping a record of Ann's recent activities...Ann has also been advised about getting along better with people...the PEDS staff warns me of her temper & how she got rid of the previous coders; they do not like or trust her...

...6/14/02: Flag Day...no Ann, no idea what to expect, so Brad & I do the Rounds...he codes the I/P services, I perform the daily audit and help doctors with their billing questions...I have addressed this matter with Rosanne, in a subtle sort-of way...Brad is doing this free, because he wants to & likes it...he should be considered for employment, either on a full- or part-time basis...he would be there on time and hates to talk on the phone...and he is in better health (in our own way) than Ann...I asked if Rosanne knew what to expect on Monday...I told her that Brad would be coming in to help prevent a high backlog of in- or outpatient charges...due to changes, I will do the Rounds & code the I/P billing sheets...

...6/17/02: Ann returns to work...the E/R exams her and says Ann should get more rest...Rosanne agrees, but Ann does not, so she gets an OK from another UPA medical provider...that morning Ann is moved upstairs, to a less stressful location, and Geri will work in in my area...do not know how long this exchange program will last...for now, Ann is coding PEDS charges...also, Brad can no longer help until Pat gives the OK...I can stare at a wall & work...Geri says very little to me...at a meeting, Ann does not say anything to me...Brad gets a call for an interview on 6/18/02 at 3 PM, for the Data Entry position, with Jackie as his manager...he should have an answer by 6/21/02...6/24/02: not yet...7/1/02: Brad has an interview at PRES to answer & route phone calls...

...and to think that I was going to give Ann a purple leather rose as a get well gift!...

And now, a word from our sponsor...

...6/18/02: I am informed by Rosanne that E-mails sent to Brad might constitute a breach of confidentiality...a phone call was suggested as an option...but that would not have been wise for many people could hear what I said...how did someone know what I E-mailed, and why did someone look at what I sent...answer: management has the ability to audit E-mail to prevent obscene or indecent messages from being transmitted...

...on the Billing Box at NeoNatal, it reads Mike, 2-1873, PEDS Billing Sheets...

...6/18/02: Rosanne walks by my area after I left for the doctor's visit...she sees my PC is still turned on, and the Screen Saver is not working (possibly allowing illegal entry)...6/19/02: I had over 30 errors on INGENIX for the same reason, which is not possible, but not worth the energy to disagree...I later told her that Ann said it was not necessary to do so...that same day Ann agreed that she told me not to turn the PC off!...during the first six months, an employee can be fired without due cause...I wonder if Ann got into any trouble for attempting suicide at work (from what I've heard, the answer is NO!)...

...work is stressful, and not boring...

...in its own way, this area is more vicious than DC, because it is hidden behind smiles & innocent looks...6/19/02: this is the first day I actually wanted to leave this area...but by the end of the day, Rosanne & I had soothed the waves...but this is not over...life is still uneasy...and my opinion about people has not changed, except getting lower...sometimes I think Rosanne cares too much for the nut case, who will not speak to me...and I will try my best not to quit!...and I was stopped by a train at the crossing both to & from work...Montgomery bus drivers like to stop and get something to drink on the morning run...

...6/20/02: Answer Day!...received an E-mail from Ann saying she is upset that I was irritated by her absence...I replied, saying I was angry for always being alone, but that she belived these other people and did not talk to me about it on Monday...this generated another E-mail from her saying that she was not angry with me, she did not believe them, but since I was angry at her for adding stress in my life, then she would be angry with me (?!?)...no reply from Mike...in her E-mail, Ann admits to attempting suicide and being put into restraints, plus other health & social problems...Mike is now scared, nervous, upset & tense...ended the day attended a speech by the Dean of Human Science, Dr. Roth...he was casual (with bolo tie) and somewhat human (he removed his jacket as he continued talking)...but in the end, it was lots of words and no money for the staff...

...then, on 6/21/02, Ann apologizes to Mike for her behavior; the ice has broken!...Mike indicates that it's OK...Ann later brings Mike his paycheck, for which he thanks her...but, Ann has not spoken to him in public; i.e., when someone else is present...we shall see...the next task is working on late charges from Dr. McKinnell...these are sent to the department head, Dr. Heiderman, who informs us that this will not happen again...but it does...when Dr. McKinnell brings another batch of charges on 6/24 & 6/26/02, many of them too late to be filed...