Professionalism and Ethics

Lilving Will

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:11:20 GMT

Did anyone feel the answer to the question on the purpose of a living will is incorrect ? it states the purpose is a) to establish laws that define when life support measures are futile.

I think the correct answer is b) allows persons unable to communicate with caregivers to express their wishes about the extent of treatment they with to have applied.

Ethical Conflict

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:56:50 GMT

What are the recurring ethical issues you and your staff encounter?

Clinical Ethics Committees

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:46:26 GMT

As clinical ethics issues arise at your hospitals, who assists in guiding staff, physicians, and families? Do you have Clinical Ethics Committees that are convened to address individual situations as they develop? If so, who serves on these committees, and do you have specific issues that trigger the committee?

Study Question

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:06:43 GMT

True or False

Health care ethic is different from:

Compliance

The Law

Answer : True

From

Power Point Persentation

Benefits of Managing Ethics in the Workplace

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:08:28 GMT

According to the book The Tracks We Leave: Ethics in Healthcare Management, the chapter "Conflicting Moral Demands" states that there are 10 benefits of managing ethics in the workplace.

Attention to ethics improves society.
Ethics programs help maintain a moral course in turbulent times.
Ethics programs cultivate teamwork and productivity.
Ethics program support employee growth and meaning.
Ethics program ensure policies are legal.
Ethics programs help avoid criminal acts and help to lower fines if acts occur
Ethics program help with quality management, strategic planning, and diversity management.
Ethics programs promote a strong public image.
Ethics programs strengthen organizational culture, improve trust in relationships, support quality of products, and cultivate sensitivity to values
It is the right thing to do.

Do you agree with these benefits? What do you see as additional benefits which for our current environment especially with the impending change to our current healthcare system.

Overview of Ethics Responsibilities

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:38:09 GMT

Overview and summary of Ethical Responsibilities of the Healthcare Executive

The Healthcare Executive’s responsibility to the profession of Healthcare management is define in five domains. The first domain is to the profession of Healthcare Management. Within this domain the executive is, among other considerations, expected to uphold the Code of Ethics and mission of the ACHE; conduct professional activities with honesty, integrity, respect, fairness and good faith; comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to healthcare management; and enhance the dignity and image of the healthcare management profession through positive public information programs.

The second domain of responsibilities for the healthcare executive is to patients or other served. As with the previous domain, there are multiple considerations that include a responsibility to work to ensure the existence of a process to evaluate the quality of care or service rendered; avoid practicing or facilitating discrimination and institute safeguards to prevent discriminatory organizational practices; and work to ensure the existence of procedures that will safeguard the confidentiality and privacy of patients or others served.

The healthcare executive’s responsibility to the organization is the third domain. Within the scope of his or her authority, the healthcare executive will provide healthcare services consistent with available resources, and when there are limited resources, work to ensure the existence of a resource allocation process that considers ethical ramifications; lead the organization in the use and improvement of standards of management and sound business practices; be truthful in all forms of professional and organizational communication, and avoid disseminating information that is false, misleading or deceptive.

The fourth domain of responsibility for the healthcare executive is to employees. Within this domain are responsibilities such as creating a work environment that promotes ethical conduct by employees, and establish appropriate grievance and appeals mechanisms.

Community and societal responsibilities are the fifth domain for the healthcare executive. As with the other domains, the healthcare executive will work to identify and meet the healthcare needs of the community; encourage and participate in public dialogue on healthcare; work to support access for all people to healthcare services.

Each domain has additional listed responsibilities. Those responsibilities that I have chosen to identify are behaviors that I often see or hear about on a weekly if not daily basis. However, it is also the responsibility of the healthcare executive to report violations of the code is reasonable grounds have been established. The “reasonable grounds” criterion deserves more attention and is the scope of this overview.

Practice Question Discrepancy

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:49 GMT

There are two of the practice questions that ask essentially the same question, but give different answers. The first #6 asks "Which of the following is not a benefit of an ethical culture?" The answer given is "Improve Employee Morale" The second question, #15 asks"Which ofthe following is not a benefit a Healthcare Organization experiences when it fosters and demands an ethical environment?" The answer given here is "Improved Productivity" However, Improved employee morale is one of the choices.

According to the article, "Strengthtning Ethical Decision Making" by William Nelson, both answers are correct. In his article he specifies that increased Employee loyalty is a benefit of an ehtical culture, however, he doesnot mention employee productivity. I believe, however, that increase employee morale wouldbe a result of an ehtical culture, which wouldleadto improved loyalty. Also, this improved morale and loyalty would haveto result in increased productivity. Therefor, there is really no correct answer for questions #6 and #15.

Do you agree?

Applying A Reactive Model To Recurring Issues: Is It Ethical?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:51:49 GMT

Given the results described in Bill Nelson's presentation, I believe one could argue that establishing a proactive approach to ethical decision-making is, in and of itself, ethically sound. Organizations with well-established, proactive practices seem to make higher quality decisions and have a more efficient process. These "savings" would allow the organization to channel its resources and efforts to other matters that also affect performance. With this, is it unethical to deal with systemic (or recurring issues) on a case by case basis? It would seem that developing a proactive approach for issues that are more appropriately dealt with on a case by case basis, could be problematic as well. In your experience, what practices allow the organization to establish the best balance. If the cost of developing a policy or guideline exceeds the value that the organization will accrue by using it, does that imply that the proactive approach is not appropriate for the situation? What other criterion should be applied when determining whether an issue should be dealt with proactively. Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Questions

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:11:06 GMT

Which moral philosophy has a focus on what makes a “good person” rather than on what makes a “good action”?
a) Natural Law
b) Rawls
c) Casuistry and ethics of care
d) Virtue ethics

Which of the following is not one of the Ethical Principles?
a) Respect for persons
b) Justice
c) Professionalism
d) Beneficence

Factors to taken into consideration when addressing an ethical conflict include all of the following except:
a) The mission statement and values of the organization
b) The value-driven perspectives of key stakeholders
c) The most desired option, regardless of perceived practicality
d) A means of publicly disclosing the final decision, including the ethical reasoning

Ethics

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:23:48 GMT

Should robots be programmed to make ethical decisions?