Audits, audits, everywhere...

Next week, my case management team is getting audited by the state of Wisconsin. It's something the state likes to do once each year or so to make us all crazy and keep us on our toes. In case management, we approve the purchase of goods and services for the disabled which, of course, adds up to millions of dollars spent each year so I can see why they want to keep track of it.

This year the state has contracted a company to come out and audit a random choice of client charts. They have also decided to interview some of the people we serve. Makes sense except that, in true statelike form, they did not ask us who we felt should be interviewed. I'm sure they think that keeping it as random as possible is the best way to make sure the audit is true but, the thing is, the three people they have chosen to interview will not be able to talk to them. The people that we case manage are significantly developmentally disabled and many of them are completely non-verbal. It is from that group that they have chosen the interviewees without knowing anything about them.

I tried to call and point out to them that in all three cases, the person being interviewed would not understand the questions nor would they be able to respond. I also warned them that in at least one of the cases the person being interviewed was likely to be highly agitated by their presence and possibly become physically aggressive. I even offered to give them a list of names of other potentional interviewees who would be able to talk to them and who would not strike out to hit, punch or bite them. As usual, the state was not receptive to my assistance. They seem to think that I'm attempting to shield them from something that they should know about as if I was covering up something. So, oh well...good luck to them and the royal waste of contracted time next week! Part of me is actually hoping one of them does get pinched or bitten! T'would serve them right!

Of course, with the impending audit and the presence of state contracted auditors looming on the horizon, people here at work are all going crazy with speculation and stress. It's been interesting to see when they each individually hit their breaking point and what their reactions are. I've seen tears, heard yelling, loud sighs, and some hysterical laughter so far.

I've been through an audit each year for the past 15 years. I'm unfazed. I figure that if the state can do this job any better they would have taken it away from me by this time. They haven't, I'm here, so pffft! We will survive!