This morning, I sat through independent audit and chart review.

[Aristus]

A doctor I've never heard of has been randomly auditing my charts for the last year. Today I got the report card.

I grew 20 years older in those two-and-a-half hours...

Result: He likes my work!

I just about fainted with relief when it was all over. Most of the criticism was related to documentation: "You documented this medication here when you should have noted it here." Things like that. Now I'm at home, trying to re-gain my youth...

Thank you for your support, DU-ers. I love you all...

[Denninmi]

1. Well, congrats for surviving it.

I know the feeling, to some extent, when an arduous task or unpleasant work event is over. Among my other duties as a paralegal, we prepare tax returns. I'm going to be glad when April 17th is come and gone. I actually really enjoy preparing returns and entering the data, I just get flustered when 20 people all want or need things done at the same time. Because, you know, they had no clue that tax day was coming -- it's not like its the same time every year like Christmas or the 4th of July.

[Aristus]

2. Sounds like our jobs are remarkably similar.

I can't count how many times, running 3 to 4 patients behind schedule, I spend time fixing someone's acute problem, and I've got my hand on the doorknob of the exam room, ready to wish them a good day, and they hit me with "Oh, one more thing, Doc!"

After a brief (I hope) run down of the problem, I ask: "How long have you had this?"

"Oh, 8 or 9 years, I guess..."



Now even further behind than before, I have to give them a polite "This will have to wait until next time."

Seriously. I could go the rest of my career without hearing "Oh, one more thing, Doc."

[Bertha Venation]

3. You rock

[Aristus]

4. Thank you, Bertha!

So do you, you know. You are 100% pure rock and roll.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Omigod, my dear Aristus!

I hope this hasn't left you feeling a bit self-conscious...

I hope you will be able to re-group and absorb what you learned today!

After all, you are a smart cookie!



Oh, just one more thing!

Congrats!

[Aristus]

8. Ha!

I got your little joke there at the end, CalPeg! Funny...

[nolabear]

6. GOD I hate that crap.

I was at an agency once when we got audited. It made everyone nuts for weeks. They let you know it's coming up and of course everyone tries to go through the records with a fine toothed comb.

Enjoy your drink!

[Aristus]

7. Thank you, nolabear.

Truth is, independent audits of medical charts are a good thing. It weeds out the bad providers and helps make the good providers better. I can say that, now that it's over...

I did get some good constructive criticism today, though. Stuff I intend to learn from.