6.3 Ethical situation

A

Competency Vl.7

B

Since May, you have been working with a recruiter to obtain a new position in HIM. Your expe rience includes over ten years in inpatient and outpatient coding, you are an AHIMA- approved ICD-10 trainer, and you have worked with your state association on coding projects over the past two years. Nothing the recruiter has presented to you has been a good fit, but in late September, the recruiter calls with positions open for coding auditor. You have never done that type of work before, but are confident you could learn, and the recruiter gets you a phone interview. During the conversation, the HIM manager for the organization says that she sees you have been an auditor since May. You immediately recognize that the HIM manager has the wrong impression of your experience.

Determine the appropriate course of action in response to the interviewer's statement.

Provide justification based on the AHIMA Code of Ethics.

If the HIM manager thought I had been an auditor before, I would kindly let her know that I had not been an auditor before. But then I would elaborate on the experience I do have. I would let her know that I had over ten years in inpatient and outpatient coding, that I am a AHIMA-approved ICD-10 trainer (meaning that I have extensive knowledge of the AHIMA Code of Ethics and am bound by it), and that I had worked on several projects for the state association. I would then let her know that I am an extremely fast learner and am up for any project. I would also let her know that my good friend is an HIM Director, has the same amount of experience and drive, is also an AHIMA-approved ICD-10 trainer, and was an auditor at one point in time. Not only would I be able to be trained quickly, I would have a colleague in the same field to collaborate with. Again, I do not have auditing experience, but am eager, fast to learn, and up for any task given to me.

Reference

AHIMA. 2019. AHIMA Code of Ethics . http://bok.ahima .org/doc?oid= 105098# .XR-TMOtKi71.