My Journey: How I Learned to Effectively Share Post-Audit Results

About five years ago I had an experience that changed my perspective and really opened my eyes to a better way to effectively share post-audit results.

Dr. Smith and I had met a number of times because we were in the same organization. He was a pediatric oncologist and I was a new auditor with authority. The meeting started out in a professional way, as you’d expect, but then it went downhill from there. My audit focused on Dr. Smith’s highest coded evaluation and management services, of which there were many. He essentially failed the audit; however, as an auditor with authority I knew it was a bad idea to use the word “FAILED,” so we talked about his “deficiencies” (because that sounded better).

Dr. Smith and I discussed how his patients couldn’t possibly be high complexity at every single visit because ultimately he is only addressing one cancer and, if we’re at all familiar with the rules of Medical Decision Making, one established problem, whether stable or worsening, isn’t necessarily going to allow high overall complexity.

Rather than ask questions, I made assumptions.  And rather than listen to my “expertise,” Dr. Smith was furious. How in the world could kids fighting cancer NOT meet high complexity? We argued like a couple of toddlers, unable to understand the other’s points, and unwilling to forego our own.

But I learned a vital lesson that day. In order to effect change, we must be able to open up and share.


While most auditors are committed to effectively communicating post-audit results, it can still be pretty tricky. Once a documentation audit has been performed, you have to deliver a thoughtful, clear explanation of those results to the provider. And there are many elements to consider.

Tune in to my upcoming webinar, How to Successfully Communicate Audit Results in 4 Simple Steps, to learn how to prioritize the most pertinent information and identify the best way to ensure compliance-now and in the future. This 60-minute, interactive, webinar will help you learn how to interpret audit results and communicate those results in a meaningful way.

Hope to see you at the webinar!

Webinar Details Here >>

Have you had any of your own “ah-ha!” moments? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below.

Questions or Comments?