Which root cause analysis tool is not useful for improving Medicare billing errors?

The employee engagement survey is not useful for improving Medicare billing errors because it primarily assesses employee attitudes, motivation, and overall satisfaction within the organization. While employee engagement is crucial for fostering a positive workplace environment and can indirectly influence performance, it does not specifically analyze the processes or factors contributing to billing errors.

In contrast, the other tools mentioned are designed for detailed problem identification and process improvement. The Five Whys technique digs deep into the underlying causes of an issue by sequentially asking "why" until the root cause is identified. The Cause and Effects diagram, also known as a fishbone diagram, visually maps out potential causes of a problem, helping teams explore various contributing factors systematically. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a proactive tool that helps identify potential failure points in a process and their consequences, allowing organizations to implement safeguards before errors occur.

Therefore, while the employee engagement survey can contribute to overall improvements in a healthcare setting, it is not a focused tool for systematically addressing and reducing specific errors in Medicare billing.