Reference no: EM132373335
Discussion 1
150 words each
Disciplinary Measures
The appropriate disciplinary actions needed are not always apparent to those involved. That is one reason your textbook will be a wonderful reference book and a great start to your professional library. The manager who wants to be fair and just is one who gives great thought before administering discipline.
After completing the reading, respond to each of the scenarios below.
A. June Skinner is an assistant social worker at Valley Cancer Treatment Center, where you are Director of Social Work (DSW). Barb Simmons, Senior Social Worker, was not back from lunch and so June was given a phone call pertaining to one of Barb's patients. Being inexperienced, June unintentionally shared information about a patient, Debbie Fox, over the phone with someone who was not authorized to be given medical information about Ms. Fox. That person was the patient's ex-husband. He told June that he was Debbie's father (who was on the list of people who could get information about Ms. Fox). Now the ex-husband is going to use the information against the patient in a child custody hearing. You, as DSW must deal with this situation and decide on the proper course of action. Describe the conflict situation using theories and key terms from your reading. In your response, also provide a course of action and justification for doing so.
B. You are the Food Services Director of St. Regis Hospital with a staff of 135 employees. The Senior Staff Dietician, Joe Smith, was dismissed on charges of embezzlement. The problem is, Mr. Smith had been with St. Regis for over 30 years, and was well loved by the food services staff. Since his departure, morale of the department has sharply declined. Explain your plan for using leadership skills to raise department morale and foster teamwork.
Discussion 2
Falsification of records and billing are serious offenses and must be treated as such. As a health administrator, you will be called upon to monitor staff to be sure that records and billing are accurate.
In this scenario, consider that you are the assistant manager of operations for the Smith Home Health Care Services. Part of your job is to do impromptu visits where internal audits are completed as a measure to monitor the home health nurses and aides for the company.
You have been observing Barbara Smithers, who has been a home health aide since the company was established in 1995. You notice, before one of your monitoring visits, that Barbara's billing totals seem higher than the average worker. When you observe her home services and compare them to the services rendered, there is a discrepancy. Going back in her service records, this has been a pattern for at least 4 years. You report this to your supervisor, Ron James. Mr. James meets with Barbara, who finally admits that she has been "padding" the billing for at least 10 years, at the demand of nursing supervisor, Donna Strickland. Mr. James asks you to sit in on a conference with Ms. Strickland and Ms. Smithers and contribute to questioning them and helping make a final decision.
If accusations turn out to be true, what would be your recommendation in this case be to the Mr. James? What records do you need to review before the conference? Be sure to cite standards from the False Claims Act.
How did the Service fail in its responsibility in monitoring Barbara? Should the facility also be held responsible?
Could the Service have avoided this situation? Does 4 years of potential fraudulent billing seem a reasonable time period for no one to notice?
What are the consequences of this behavior? Is there a criminal case here? What about civil liability? Are there any non-monetary consequences this Service should now be worried about?