Reference no: EM133021612

Question - Jackie Mills, MA, has been asked by the Office Manager (OM) to use her computer account to update patient files in the computer. The office has changed to a new software program and needs to reset the billing cycle for the current patients. So that the new project doesn't interfere with Jackie's regular work, she has requested that she come in an hour and a half earlier. Jackie also explains that by coming in earlier than the rest of the staff, she can concentrate and be more efficient. The OM agrees, and has approved for her to sign in earlier on her time sheet until the project is finished.

The OM has planned for this project to take between 10 and 15 hours to complete. At the end of the first week, the OM has noticed that Jackie has signed in two hours early each day. At the beginning of the second week, the Office Manager asks Jackie how the project is coming along since she has had about 10 hours of work into it. Jackie states that the project is much more involved than what she expected, and that it would take her at least another 20-30 hours to complete it, if not longer. This statement surprises the OM; the software company assured her it is a fairly easy and quick process to reset the billing cycle for current patients. The OM herself has already reset a couple of accounts due to special circumstances.

If the OM is unsure or weary of Jackie's actions, how could the OM verify Jackie's work?

If the OM was able to prove Jackie wasn't doing her work, what actions should be taken against Jackie?