5300 Quiz 4 to Final Flashcards
What is a broad definition of ethics?
The system or code of morals of a particular group, profession, religion, etc. Moral Code.
What are some of the issues related to medical ethics that might be of concern to allied health professionals?
Genetic testing. Genetic manipulation. Cloning. Reproductive freedom. Patient self-determination. Disclosure of HIV status.
How could these ethical issues affect managers?
Should a hospital run like a business.
What do hospitals do to facilitate dilemmas that may arise from medical ethics?
Policies. Ethics committees.
What specific ethics issues arise when health care facilities “run like a business?”
Who gets service and who does not. How much provider compensation is legitimate. Is medical advertising ethical.
Regulatory compliance program
To ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, emphasis usually concerns compliance in billing and reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, gov programs, private insurers. Must be in compliance with the DHHS.
Conflict of interest
Ethical issue. When ever an objective observer of one’s actions would have cause to wonder whether the observed actions are motivated solely by organizational concerns or external concerns.
When is conflict of interest most likely to emerge?
Most frequently in the healthcare manager’s management of a department of group.
Concerning information, an organization’s ethical standard of conduct may set forth the following principles:
Disclosure ob business secrets or proprietary info is prohibited. Upon termination, all organizational property & info must be surrendered. Use of inside info for personal gain is prohibited.
The Self-Referral Law
Stark law. Physician cannot be paid for “kickback” referring patients to another entity, especially one w/ which they have a finical relationship.
Concerning conflict of interest, employees must:
Avoid placing business where there is conflicting financial interest. Derive no personal financial gain from the org’s business. All personal business on own time. Do not hire relatives. Avoid soliciting gifts, free meals, etc. Avoid accepting gifts. Protect pt & provider intro. Never charge to expedite admission.
Applying organizational assets for personal use:
Org’s assets are for business use only, telephones, computers, copiers. Most common ethical breach in organizational life.
Political activity
The key consideration is maintaining neutrality. No not-for-profit entity may take sides or otherwise support a political party or candidate.
Employee privacy
Must maintain strict need to know criteria for access to personnel records.
Patient confidentiality
All patient info is subject to the strictest need to know criteria. HIPPA
In admitting & caring for patients:
Admit & care for without regard to race, color, economic status, etc. Provide all w/ pt’s bill of rights. Treat all in a respectful, considerate manner. Include pt in treatment decisions. Respect privacy & confidentiality of all.
How do you address ethical issues?
Publish and disseminate ethical standards. Have employee ethics hotline. Formal ethics committee.
What is the supervisor’s key role in ethics?
Must ensure all employees read, review, and understand the organizations ethical standards of conduct. Model ethical behavior - greatest influence in shaping employee behavior.
Where do the strongest examples of unethical behavior occur?
Are those visible breaches that occur at high organizational levels.
A business’s ethical standards should be written…
in positive, constructive terms, laying out practical guidelines for ethical practice.
What is a broad definition of ethics?
A code of morals of a particular group
Which of the following IS NOT an issue related to medical ethics that might be of cocern to allied health professionals?
A patient’s right to privacy
What do hospitals do to facilitate dilemmas that may arise from medical ethics?
Obtain insight and guidance from a hospital ethics committee
Of the following, which IS NOT a specific ethical issue that arises when health care facilities “run like a business?”
New areas of care
With what does regulatory compliance usually refer?
Billing and reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid
What is meant by “conflict of interest?”
Real or perceived behavior that suggests personal gain from external dealings
When a computer in your department is replaced, it’s o.k. for you to take the old one home for your children to use.
false
It’s o.k. to make long distance phone calls from the secretary’s desk during lunch hour.
False
It’s ethical to download an expensive software program at work for use at home.
False
It’s ethical to share information about an interesting case at a social gathering.
False
It’s ethical to tell a friend at a competing hospital about plans your hospital has for new programs.
False
It’s ethical to discuss an ethical dilemma you have with your supervisor.
True
It’s ethical for you to start a home care program and refer your hospitalized patients to it.
False
It’s ethical for you to write a letter to your political representative during work, using hospital stationery.
False
You’ll need to sign a form if you want your employer to send your personnel information to another hospital where you are seeking a job.
True
Which new law relates to protection of patient privacy?
HIPPA
Ethical issues with regards to employee relationships are adequately handled by current laws.
False
What lesson should you learn from the situation presented at the beginning of the chapter? (Who should be laid off first.)
Each hospital should have a written policy regarding layoffs in case of fiscal emergency
Of the following, what is a primary function of a hospital’s ethics committee?
Develop and revise policies pertaining to clinical ethics
What is the current status of ethical behaviors among American youth?
Teens are more likely to cheat, steal and lie than 10 years ago
Based on current trends, how will the role of a supervisor change with regards to ethical behaviors?
Expect less compliance with ethical standards
What are the two major types of teams
Special purpose team. Departmental team.
The special purpose team
Whether assembled ad hoc for a specific purpose or ongoing for some contenting purpose.
Why do potential legal problems arise with regards to Employee or Project Teams?
They could be adjudged an illegal labor organization under the National Labor Relations Act. (NLRA).
What is the nature of the legal problems that can arise with teams?
Can be seen as intruding on the territory of labor unions.
What can management do to avoid the legal problems that arise from teams?
ID up front - they are non intended as employee channels to management. Keep the focus on work improvement only. Volunteers, or rotate membership. Give them decision making authority, if possible. Keep a majority of managers on ongoing teams. Ad hoc teams & disband them when the purpose is served.
What to avoid in using employee teams:
Don’t permit them to address, or solicit anything about terms and conditions of employment from them. Don’t let them become gripe sessions. Don’t mandate employee participation or ask employees to represent others. Don’t allow a team to operation without a clear charge or mission,
What are several shortcomings of Project teams?
Unwillingness to set aside power & rank. Unequal knowledge. Reward systems support individual performance, discourage teamwork. Appraisals must focus on the team. Lack of top management commitment. Teams are interdependent. Strong leadership is required.
Team building
An organized, systematic process of unifying a group of employees w/ common objectives into an effective and efficiently functioning work unit.
True team building requires:
Shared power and authority. Increased employee participation.
True team building can:
Foster increased productivity while maintaining or improving quality. Improve work climate, enhance work relationships, and increase employee satisfaction.
“Team effect”
synergy.
