Life as a Consultant
By Ann Botros, PhD, RHIA

I entered the exciting world of HIM (Health Information Management) consulting in the spring of 1986 as a young HIM Director with five years of experience in an acute setting with a lot of ambition and great passion for the HIM profession at large. I had already been involved with professional organizations and volunteered to work on various committees for TxHIMA, and the local HIMA. This was a formative period in my professional life as I was well on my way to obtaining a graduate degree in business administration and my work and educational experiences were continually shaping and sharpening my verbal, public speaking, and leadership skills. It was at this point in time that I began assisting physicians with coding and billing as well as assisting hospitals of various sizes in their JCAHO surveys preparations.

By 1996, my consulting practice became a full time (ad)venture. I was now able to invest my time and energies by partnering with reputable professionals who could back me up as subcontractors as the need would arise.

The HIM profession at large has always energized me. I have always enjoyed working with a diverse cross-section of intelligent professionals. I am in all ways gratified when I make positive contributions to otherwise challenging situations and am on the receiving end of such comments from clients as: "You are restoring my confidence in the HIM Profession"; " Thank you, we could not have done it without you"; "We have learned so much from you in the last two hours". These are the moments that forever encourage me to overcome the weekly demands of traveling and being away from my family on a regular basis.

Like any other self-employed professional, my biggest challenge has always been marketing my services. I found that the "word of mouth" is the most powerful tool, which is a happy client. Therefore, I am networking on a regular basis.
Here are some of the rewarding experiences in consulting:
     1. Practice Management for Physicians, which includes assessing the operation, creating Policy and Procedures required for compliance with all HIPAA components;
     2. Assistance with Physician's EMR (electronic medical record) and software and hardware needs, thereby facilitating their workflow while reducing the stress levels among office staff.
     3. Facilitating cultural changes that create a successful business enterprise.
     4. Projects in hospitals such as assisting HIM directors in choosing a vendor for imaging and scanning
     5. Automation of medical records within allowed operational and capital budgets.
     6. Implementation of Optimal Productivity Standards in the course of restructuring current operations and workflow. This allows the HIM department to run smoother with a motivated team that can accomplish the goals and mission of the facility.

I must say that part time teaching has been very rewarding for me as well. This is how I share my life experiences as a long time HIM director with students and help them assess their own potential for the HIM profession that I love so much.

In closing, when Robert Frost, the great American poet wrote of "the road less traveled", I'm sure he didn't have HIM in mind. Ever-changing demands for health care management have now created endless opportunities for HIM positions and HIM consultants out of the hospital and into other health care settings. It is with great pride and satisfaction that I can report that the road less traveled has become the road I have mostly traveled.

Ann Botros received her Ph.D. in Business Administration in 1992 and RHIA later the same year. Over the course of twenty years she has gained experience as a Health Information Management Director in hospitals of various sizes.

At the present time, she is the president of her own health care consulting company, Professional Health Care Consultants. She is an adjunct faculty member for Southwest Texas State University in the Department of Health Services Research, and teaches for San Antonio College in the Medical Assisting Department as well.

Ann served as President of the Texas Gulf Coast Medical Records Association.

Since HIPAA was signed into law in 1996, she has been actively involved in the development and delivery of national seminars clarifying the concepts, the legislative mandates, and most importantly, the practical steps and tools for implementation for successful compliance.