Why You Should Bring in an External Auditor

An audit of the coding and documentation at any organization can be stressful, especially when an outside auditing organization is hired. It’s not uncommon for the entire staff to think the worst. Perceptions of inadequacies, compliance problems, and bad business decisions swirl around the minds of employees who fear the loss of employment and/or a ruined reputation.

These unspoken fears stem from misunderstanding. In truth, audits provide many opportunities. For even more information on this topic, you can watch our recent webinar on-demand.

An External Auditor is Invaluable to Your Organization Because:

• External auditors help ensure compliance and provide credibility
• They can lend an objective eye to internal auditors
• External auditors are not employees, therefore, they’re free of conflicts of interest

As with all products developed for every industry, utilized by consumers, auditing/testing is a vital part of success. Think of how your appliances were tested to ensure their safety. Without testing, there would be an increased chance of fires, explosions, injuries, and possibly death. If car or plane engines weren’t audited and rated for their capabilities, consider the results of their breakdown and failure.

When dealing with audits, it’s important to set the tone within the organization. Ease the minds of staff members regarding the role of the audit. HIM directors must work to ensure coders maintain a positive outlook throughout the process. Negativity and fear can lead to defensiveness and internal sabotage that can potentially destroy the entire process.

Set Expectations with Coders Beforehand By:

• Defining goals of the audit: Clear goals will help ensure audit feedback is on target with the organization’s objectives
• Providing written documentation for those goals
• Obtaining executive report
• Relaying those expectations to your coding staff (allow time for feedback and questions)

Employees, management, and the organization as a whole, benefit when information is properly communicated and the audit results are realized and implemented.

For more information on how to set the tone for audits, and how internal and external auditors can work together, watch the on-demand recording of my recent webinar, “Enhancing Your Audit Plan with an External Audit: Keep the OIG Out of Your Organization.”