Mount Sinai is a wonderful hospital on the cutting edge of technology and care. As a professional Medical Records Coder I was more than excited to start my new job there. Unfortunately from day one I experienced the worst possible treatment and total lack of respect from the team of managers who just the week before was so thrilled to "welcome me on board." The supervisor who I had to report directly had no formal ICD-9 or CPT training or credentials whatsoever. Coders and staff could not go to her for any questions on actual coding issues, yet they HAD to. The big "rule" of the department was that no coding communication of any sort was allowed between CRMs and staff without her explicit approval on a case by case basis. Imagine this in a busy coding office! This was the biggest frustration I had to deal with. Twice I found myself called into the office for having an "improper communication with a coder." By the second week of employment I had enough and moved on elsewhere to a much more open, professional, and rewarding job at a much less prestigious hospital.
The coding managers at Mount Sinai are, unfortunately, very much dedicated to micro-managing and controlling the behavior of its staff and in the process, completely demeaning and demoralizing them terribly. They focus on so many rules, and processes, and functions, and forming graphs and charts and holding countless, wasteful meetings where nothing productive is ever accomplished. It is unfortunate because the case mix at this hospital is an amazing challenge and training tool for any coder. It would be a great place to work if it wasn't for this very dysfunctional group of control freaks who are in charge. The coding staff -- who are union, probably the only reason they stay -- deserve great kudos for what they have to put up with and for doing such good work. If anything gets done in this department it is because the coding staff lives up to some very arbitrary rules and impossible standards. If you do plan on accepting a job at Mount Sinai, be prepared for a hasty exit. Run don't walk.
