"The days of defeat @UPA in early 2003!"

"2/23/03 & 2/28/03, days of defeat!"

...2/19/03: Doris tell us that January charges for Dr. Fahl have not been billed...this seems strange, since he delivers most of his billing sheets to us...and, he has never spoke to us about this topic...we guess she wanted to see exactly how much backlog we actually do have...for the record, we have 3 charges for Dr. Fahl that are waiting for dictation (similar to Waiting to Exhale)...like the job, hate the people...2/22/03: Brad asked if I hate my job...the answer as of then: yes!...we are treated better by the people around us (non-UPA) than by our co-workers (UPA)...but someone is telling stories to Hope...and Hope receives billing sheets, but we get none for our audits...and Cassandra has yet to receive billing sheets from Cheryl...both her & Rosanne have phoned & E-mailed her...since Rosanne is in the same building as Cheryl, she should go to her office and get them!...charges appeared on Cassandra's chair...they had to have been delivered by Hope...factions, factions everywhere...even both our handwritings are easy to read, thus preventing any additional delays...

...the effects started on 2/20/03...and right now, my mood is that of defeat...the rushing of running to bus stops, rushing to get my books, rushing home then rushing to eat in order to have enough time for my food to digest before I collapse in bed...at work, there is no praise or recognition for initiative...but it will be noted & written up if you do something wrong, perhaps when you don't know what you did was wrong!...you don't get told if you're doing well or doing things right or doing what is expected from you...they are too busy reminding you what you have not done or done wrong!...2/21/03: asked by Rosanne, because our Pat heard that nursing charges were being crossed off Hem/Onc billing sheets...we were asked if we were doing this...being asked means that Rosanne believes we would do it (at least from my viewpoint)...she also wanted to know when did the audit drop from 100% to 80% for Hem/Onc...it was in mid-November...I also replied via phone that various Data Entry people or other coders also had access to these charges...then Dr. Wong asked if we were holding back any billing sheets...I/D told him about this possible problem...my replay: only those that were dictated and did not appear on PowerChart or Mozart at this time...which means Transcriptions was preventing these services from being coded...they have not enetered everything from the third week in January to the present...he was satisfied by the answer...last week of February, we meet with Dr. Overturf (M), Dr. Brandt (W) & Endocrinology (TH) for more training sessions...

...Rosanne seems more concerned with where I got my colored paper to differentiate the billing months, than the fact that Hope kept changing her mind about which way was the easiest for her to understand...at least Jackie did something when Hope went to her with a problem...the answer for Hope's complaining was You're the oldest coder, from Geri...1 year ago, the answer from Geri for the same problem was You're the newest code...nothing more was said by Rosanne...Hope is immune to complaints & accusations!...

...I am very frustrated!...humanity usually returns by SUN evening, but is gone by TUES morning...nobody knows me, so nobody can vouch for me...they don't know my personality, my accountability or work habits...no one has really looked at my Tech Manual or Cassandra's spread sheet...no one asks about them, and no one really cares...the rules keep changing, especially since nothing is in writing...or, if you are told to find a specific article, do not expect much help from anyone!...the higher dose of Altace allows me to cry on the inside, but not on the outside...I'm not sure if that's good or bad...

...how can other people be helping us if they are calling us up every 5 minutes (or less) with another problem?...how come Lisa H. has always directly ordered her own forms...

...2/27/03: storm clouds are forming...at UPA, as Hope goes to Jackie & tells her we are not co-operative...this, after Hope criticized Cassandra's job knowledge, and that she is getting as bad as Mike!...from Hope keeping her ass towards me when she enters our area, to telling Cassandra to bring batches to Hope, to constantly asking us how to enter data, to not wanting to pick up our batches for days, to telling us to bring our batches to her...there is a meeting on 2/28/03 @1 to discuss these areas of conflict...but Cassandra was very upset about Hope & everything...Hope always says she could do our job...then help E/R with their backlog!...Hope seems to have a lot of time to visit various areas or call people and complain about our work...she becomes selectively stupid and selectively sweet & terribly co-operative...what a way to end a very stressful week...I may leave early...I do not get the chance...and I don't care!...everybody likes Hope!...

...is Hope the personification of a UPA employee?...has she not achieved her goal to get rid of me?...Cassandra also feels she is not wanted...we are always questioned what Hope accusses us...is she also cross-examined like us?...

"It's showtime!"

...2/28/03: created examples displaying the correct use of various modifiers...these were given to Dr. Heideman...the most expensive procedure should be the first entry, in order to be paid the highest amount for the services...do not use MOD 59 unless absolutely necessary...Rosanne called Cassandra, asked if I had a memo explaining modifiers...since I could not find it in 20 seconds, Cassandra was told that Geri probably has it...one minute later and I found it, but I guess it took too long for me to locate my memo...

...the meeting was attended by Rosanne, John, Jackie, Doris, Hope, Arlene, Cassandra & myself...we discussed the problems with the new APC forms...criteria was decided, people agreed and it was over...however, Doris said that they were doing things from things that Ann said...the Gospel according to St. Ann...on one hand, Hope says they are caught up...in another, Jackie still has a mid-Jan batch sheet & her staff is working overtime...Hope is confused yet says she can be a Coder...no other topics were addressed...like I say, we had no idea what was to be discussed, but evrybody else did, since ther were prepared with examples...when that topic ended, so did the meeting...not even the queston Has anybody have anything else to discuss?...I guess everyone knew the topic of the meeting except us two...Cassandra & I are definitely not in the loop...Rosanne never called Cassandra to discuss what Hope had said the previous day...no contact...Rosanne did not ask if the meeting time was convenient to us!...

...that's OK...this is Cassandra's career, so she may not leave her position; but...and I want this job, so I will do what I can to survive; but...we have to be quiet and bide our time until the right moment...both of us agree: we care too much about our work...

"Prologue to epilogue!"

...2/24/03: work is just a job; nothing more, nothing less...meeting with Dr. Overturf postponed, John never showed up...Rosanne E-mailed Pat, indicating that people should have been contacted if he could not participate in the training...2/25/03: I will be taught E/R by Cassandra...Rosanne wants everyone to help reduce that area's enormous backlog...Cheryl finally returned the old dictation...said she was out sick all last week...why didn't Rosanne tell us?...and Cheryl's E-mail was opened...we could have gone to Cheryl's desk to pick up the billing sheets...

...2/25/03: started coding ER charges...all the little non-coding details to remember...how many in batch, what to highlight, what goes to Data Entry and where to bring everything when you are done for the day...as of 3/5/03, we will resume a 100% audit on Hem/Onc services for one month...2/26/03 meeting will clear (?) up any notions that we are holding charges or have a backlog we cannot manage...in reality, we explained the next set of changes to the nephrology billing sheet, and took requests to include additional procedures on the form...2/27/03: Endocrinology meeting...followed by a PEDS new forms & audit meeting...and, usually, John remindseveryone that he has been a nurse for 26 years, and that some ideas are anal retentive...that is just so professional!...no O/T at the end of the month...3/1/03: go to work, update GPU, remove FEB pages from PSAC & PICU...we now have lots of work in our own area...may devote more time to our own backlog...

...law of the land...do not correct mistakes...they will accuse you, even if there is evidence to the contrary!...if someone blames you, that person is correct; you are guilty...no further questions, period!...don't provide info unless asked, and just answer the question!...still, it was as if everyone (except Cassandra & myself) knew what was to be discussed at the 2/28/03 meeting...it felt like an us vs them meeting; we were treated as if we were not UPA employees!...3/3/03: I do not like going to work & I hope I do not get sick due to nerves!...

...3/3/03: Cassandra left @12:30 (mid-terms)...Rosanne called Cassandra (I answered) and asked me to get the NOV procedure report from Dr. Heideman...did so, made copy, faxed to persons unknown...I was told that if I'm having any problems that I should talk with Rosanne...yeah, right!...Hope is irritating Cassandra more & more...this morning, Hope turned & spoke to me, something not seen or heard in this area for over a month!...3/4/03: again, we were told that ICD codes not on the billing sheet are to be entered on a specific screen in the database...while neither Cassandra & myself had never seen or heard of it, Jeannie & Rosanne indicated that it had been brought up at a PEDS meeting...it is something we should have been doing for a long time, because this information will determine if changes are necessary to the list of available dxs' on the back of the billing form...a copy of this E-mail was forwarded to our Pat...and Hope started a telephone attack by calling Cassandra every few minutes...of course, Rosanne will probably say it was our fault for making mistakes...we will find ways to allow more time for these new tasks...Doris thinks we are organized workers, and feels sorry for our burden of work...the I/P audits show that the doctors are coding correctly...helping E/R should be when our work is under control...we are thoroughly dissatisfied with that place...PBP was a much better run organization, because its rules were in writing...

...never let your guard down!..questions & curiosity are not encouraged!...

...when a memo asks for meeting time, this is not meant to include comments from the staff...the staff is told when an event will be held; you are expected to attend...if there is a problem, the staff must do what is necessary to be there and on time, preferably early...

...we both need time by ourselves...that means, no family or pets, just silence & solitude...we will never get our wish granted...Jolin returns on 3/24/03...

...when we notice an error, no one wants to admit they did it...so I guess we create the mistake on a billing sheet before it arrives at our area...when? who knows...

...3/4/03: Rosanne has pushed us over a limit, but we are not going to give up yet!...

...3/4/03: Cassandra was awaken at work by Dr. Greger screaming at her...the doctor was upset that her services were being downcoded due to lack of essential information...the doctor feels that having a serious disease or prescribing a certain medication automatically warrants a higher level...the doctor kept saying how John stated she was doing good work, Dr. Scott had level 5 visits and that Mike never had these problems...that's when I stepped in and told her how a charge is coded...also, we recommended that she indicate the amount of time spent with a patient, the secret of Dr. Scott's leveling...Dr. Greger said she does not remember how long she spends with a patient...I would review some of Cassandra's decisions to see if she is coding correctly (I already know she does)...I wonder how long it will take Rosanne to find out about this incident...

...in a game of UPA war, 2 Managers outrank 2 staff...Rosanne does not support or side with her staff (except Geri, who is also a fall guy)...3/5/03: Rosanne used her usual tactics, including the use of Geri, to make me tell her what's wrong...I held my ground...DC diplomacy saved the day!...and a wall is starting to be built...Cassandra & I need to devise a PEDS Terror Alert...

...it's amazing how many people can discover things that we are not doing, or are not doing correctly!...