In the event of a potential ethics violation involving a Certified Health Information Management professional, who should be notified first?

The correct approach in the event of a potential ethics violation involving a Certified Health Information Management professional is to notify the governing body first. This is crucial because the governing body, such as CHIMA, has specific protocols and standards in place for handling ethical concerns within the profession. They are equipped to investigate the situation adequately and take appropriate action based on the guidelines governing the conduct of their members.

By involving the governing body first, it ensures that the case is addressed with the proper authority and follows the right ethical and legal procedures. This can lead to a more impartial and thorough investigation, which is necessary for maintaining the integrity of the profession. Additionally, it helps to protect the rights of the individual involved as well as the interests of the public and the profession as a whole.

Notifying the manager, the union, or human resources could introduce various conflicts of interest or biases, and could lead to a handling of the situation that might not align with established ethical frameworks. Each of these entities may be involved later in the process depending on the outcome of the initial investigations, but the governing body remains the first point of contact for concerns related to ethics violations to ensure that the matter is handled appropriately and professionally from the outset.