Like everyone else, I am drowning in it.
I was so desperate today that I took something from work.
And I brought it home.
Not to worry: “they” will all end up back at the office. I didn’t steal anything, I just borrowed something.
Borrowed something to help me with my paperwork.
Each day I work, I have to turn in my Activity Log. It includes the information about the patients I see, how long I was at each house, how long it took me to get there, what kind of visit it was, and how many miles I drove.
Important stuff there…
And every patient has to sign a form, verifying that I truly did make a visit. And those verification forms have to be attached to the activity log. I don’t know if they are supposed to be attached in chronological order but, rest assured, mine are.
In the “old days”, the activity logs left our building and went to the information management department. The activity logs were set aside, and the verification forms were scanned and entered into the Electronic Medical Record. Then, the activity logs came BACK to our department so another clerk could verify our time and activities.
Once, I got back one of my activity logs because two of the verification sheets were missing. Now, I know I saw the patients and I know they signed the forms. I figured it must be a process problem. So, I did the logical thing: instead of using one staple to attach my verification forms to my activity log, I used five. Yes, five. Precisely five.
And I haven’t “lost” a verification form since.
Somewhere, somehow, the process changed. The forms no longer leave our department. The verification forms go one way and the activity logs go another. Information is reviewed, and data is input. And the end of the month is always busy. The end of the fiscal year is closer to mayhem.
What turned me into a common thief? I know you are wondering.
Our monthly staff meetings are full of important information. Statistical information delineating our fiscal standing. Pie charts telling us why our patients go back in the hospital. Copies of new protocols and procedures. Information sheets on black box drugs.
You can imagine my surprise when the Supply Nazi got up and made an announcement: “effectively immediately, field staff are NOT to use staples to attach verification forms to activity logs”
You’re kidding, right?
Wrong. Would you believe that somebody, somewhere, made the observation that a lot of time was being “wasted” by clerical staff trying to get the staples out of the activity logs? I am sure operating expenses skyrocketed, too, with the need for more staple removers.
Alas, since the activity logs are NOT leaving the building, there is no need to make more work for the clerical staff, so staples are not allowed. Not frowned upon, not discouraged, just not ALLOWED.
Now we use paperclips. Paper clips are recyclable; they can be used over and over again. If you can find any. And that is why I “liberated” a box of them today: so I can paper clip my paperwork together, right here at home. I don’t feel so bad for taking them home.
They are going to go back to the office again…..many times.
No comments:
Post a Comment