System of Inquiry: the Ethics Code

System of Inquiry: the Ethics Code

Running head: SYSTEM OF INQUIRY PAPER

System of Inquiry Paper
Cheryl L. Wright
University of Phoenix
PHL
323
Robert Deemer
June 28, 2010
System of Inquiry Paper
I chose to use the ethics code for Washington County Regional Medical Center (WCRMC). WCRMC’s Code of Conduct and Organizational Ethics have not been updated since 2000. This code provides WCRMC employees guidelines for business decisions, daily activities, and establishing trust among health care providers, potential customers, and customers. Questionable health care and business issues may arise and the answer or guidelines should be in the Administrative Handbook or through human resources for hospital personnel (WCRMC, 2000). A few of the questionable issues that may arise include: conflicts of interest, antitrust, fraud and abuse, intellectual property, taxation, employment, and patient protection. Some violations of hospital codes of conduct are governed by outside agencies or organizations and mandate reporting of violations to state or federal agencies. Health care is faced with many ethical challenges, which can be related to direct or indirect issues for cost conscious hospitals, third party payers, shortage of nurses, shortage of doctors, and complex medical conditions that have the potential to affect individuals and communities (Huntoon, 2008).
Decision Making
Employees’ ethical responsibilities and objectives at WCRMC should be identified and clarified to each employee during the hiring process and reiterated at annual reviews. All employees are responsible for the adherence to the hospital code both within their unit and outside their departmental area. All layers of management and front-line staff have a role in the decision making process of ethical issues( ACHE, 2007). Where possible, reporting and recognition of violations to the code should be addressed within the departmental framework. The departmental manager should be able to determine if the complaint meets criteria...

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