Ethical Code of Conduct for Alexander Metropolitan Hospital
In this dynamic and highly competitive business environment, it is important for business organizations as well as individuals to behave and conduct themselves in a manner that is social and legally acceptable. It can be achieved due to the development as well as implementation of the ethical code of conduct that would act as a guideline to the behaviors and actions of an organization and its members. An ethical code of conduct can be defined as a set of principles or rules that are developed or designed to assist and guide the behaviors and actions of members of an organization or professionals within a given industry or field. Ethical codes of conduct are documents that clearly set the expected behaviors of members of an organization or professionals in a given industry or field to enable them act honestly, with integrity, and in accordance with social and professional norms and values.
Ethical codes of conduct developed by an organization usually contain their vision and mission statements. The main purpose of an ethical code of conduct is to guide the behaviors and actions of professionals or members of an organization by showing them how to approach problems and what actions to take based on the core values, norms, principles, mission, and vision of the organization. An ethical code of conduct highlights the values and principles that should be held by every professional or member of an organization during the course of their work. Ethical codes of conducts are usually formulated by organizations to help their employees and other members during their interactions or business dealings. In my view, an ethical code of conduct is important in an organization because it lays down the rules for individual behaviors. Most ethical codes of conduct also provide preemptive warnings that caution workers against involvement in or committing illegal or unethical activities. The purpose of this paper is to develop an ethical code of conduct for Alexander Metropolitan Hospital. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is an outpatient centre located in Alexander City in Alabama, United States of America. Thus, the thesis statement of the paper is that Alexander Metropolitan Hospital requires an ethical code of conduct, which should be developed and implement fully.
As an outpatient healthcare organization, Alexander Metropolitan Hospital needs to show its commitment to honesty and ethical behavior during the provision of health care services to people. Additionally, it should show its commitment to provide care services to people with integrity. This can be achieved through the development and implementation of an appropriate ethical code of conduct that would guide the behaviors of its workers, including those in management governance and the professional staff. At Alexander Metropolitan Hospital, the practice of behaving honestly, ethically, and with integrity is the responsibility of every member of the organization. Every employee of the organization is responsible for the decision he or she makes and the actions he takes every day as he goes about daily work. Every organization member will be held accountable for the actions he decides to take at the workplace. The main purpose of this ethical code of conduct is to help improve patient outcomes by showing respect to the fundamental rights of each patient and to enhance the process of creating and maintaining mutually beneficial business relationships with the public and patients in an ethical manner.
Alexander Metropolitan Hospital recognizes that all patients have a fundamental right to selfless care that safeguards their personal dignity and shows great respect to their cultural, psychosocial and spiritual beliefs, principles and values. The ethical code of conduct shall form an integral part of the work philosophy of the organization. It shall communicate the ethical business standards and principles of the organization. It compasses the expected behaviors of staff and the management of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital as they carry out their duties and responsibilities. It would guide the conduct of patients and other people who may interact with the facility. The ethical code of conducts shall form an integral component in the organization that will determine how the organization achieves its mission and vision. It shall provide a guidance to ensure that health care services at the institution are provided in an ethical and legal manner. It emphasizes a common culture of integrity in the organization and the responsibility of the organization to operate with the highest ethical business standards and principles as it strives to provide high quality health care services to its clients. Honesty, integrity, compassion, teamwork, and excellence are the core values enshrined in this ethical code of conduct of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital.
Brief background of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital
Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is an outpatient centre that strives to provide high quality healthcare services to members of the community at an affordable rate. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital was founded on January 1, 2004 by John Stewart and Jane Stephan to assist in meeting the growing demand for improved health care services in Alexander City in Alabama. The mission of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is to benefit the people of Alexander City and its environs through the promotion good health by providing high quality health care services to people in a caring and comforting manner. The vision of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is to be the ultimate choice health care facility in Alabama and beyond for patients to turn to when seeking quality health care services. Thus, this ethical code of conduct is a vital component of the Corporate Compliance Program aim at helping the organization to provide quality health care services to people.
Core Values of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital
The core values of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital that would enable it achieve its mission and vision include caring for patients with expertise, compassion, and respect; addressing the health needs of people with tenacity and innovativeness; working collaboratively with the patients, members of the community, family members, and other professionals within the health care industry to advance the wellbeing of the community; and demonstrating accountability, integrity, and resourcefulness in its dealings. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is committed to giving a sound approach to all of its activities, especially, the provision of health care services to people and compliance with federal and state laws and regulations in an ethical and socially acceptable manner. Every individual at Alexander Metropolitan Hospital has a personal stake in this important initiative. Thus, everybody is strongly urged to review the information provided in this ethical code of conduct thoroughly and refer to it whenever situations arise requiring them to exercise their judgment. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital strongly holds that it will thrive and prosper only if its reputation for honesty, integrity, and the provision of quality care services is beyond question. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital must be honest and truthful in all its dealings with patients.
Duties and Responsibilities of Those in Management and governance, and the Professional Staff at Alexander Metropolitan Hospital
The main concern of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital is the wellbeing, comfort, and dignity of its patients. All patients must be provided with care services that are medically necessary and appropriate in a respectful and dignified manner without discrimination regardless of their race, color, age, sex, religion, origin, disability, or any other factor. In order to achieve that, people in management and governance as well as the professional staff shall be endowed with specific duties and responsibilities as highlighted below.
Those in management and governance should practice clear and open communication in the organization to enhance the implementation of this ethical code of conduct. Those in management and government should also ensure teamwork within the organization that would fosters a positive collaborative working environment to permit ethical conducts within the organization. Besides, the management is responsible for developing and protecting vital information that Alexander Metropolitan Hospital aims to protect. The information should be confidential.
On the other hand, the professional staff shall be responsible for respecting the fundamental rights of all patients as well as showing respect to the cultural, social, and spiritual beliefs and values of all patients. The professional staffs are responsible for careful consideration of the values and preferences of patients with regard to treatment or other care services provided, including decisions to discontinue treatment. Additionally, they should recognize their responsibility as health care providers under the federal and state laws. In addition, the professional staffs are also responsible for informing patients about their rights and responsibilities during the care process. They should create and manage strong interpersonal relationships with patients and the public in an ethical and professional manner. The professional staffs are responsible for providing timely services that meet patients’ expectations. They should show a high level of professionalism in their work within and outside the organization. The professional staffs are responsible for safeguarding the privacy and dignity of all patients. The professional staffs bear responsibility for making appropriate clinical decisions based upon the identified health care needs of the patients. The professional staffs are responsible for collecting and storing information about the medical condition, history, medication, and family illnesses of patients. Such information gathered should be kept safety in a secure environment where they cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Possible Ethical Dilemmas That May Be Encounter At Alexander Metropolitan Hospital
Professional staffs at Alexander Metropolitan Hospital would be faced with ethical dilemmas from time to time as they strive to implement this ethical code of conduct. The ethical dilemmas may vary depending on the environment under which the care services are provided. An example of a possible ethical dilemma that professional staffs particularly nurses are likely to face during their work include the challenge of exercising supervision and control while at the same time ensuring patient autonomy. For instance, an elderly patient would like to walk alone after receiving some treatments so that he would know how strong he is after the treatment.
However, the doctor or the nurse would feel that the patient must be supported as he walks so that he does not fall and obtain more injuries due to risk of falling. In this case, the ethical dilemma would arise due to conflict of interest and rights between the patient and the medical practitioner. Secondly, an ethical dilemma would arise when a professional staff is dealing with families of patients with disabilities. Most family members of patients with disabilities would not like their patients to know that some treatments may be harmful to them; hence, they tend to hide the truth from the patient. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the medical practitioner to tell the patient the truth.
Implementation and Compliance with the Ethical Code of Conduct
Every member of this organization bears responsibility for the implementation and compliance with this ethical code of conduct. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital will not tolerate any conduct or behavior that goes against the rules, principles, and value stipulated herein. The organization will provide an environment conducive for the implementation for the ethical code of conduct. It is the duty of every organizational member to know and understand all the rules stated in this ethical code of conduct. The adoption and implementation of this ethical code of conduct shall be overseen by the Compliance Manager.
A sound compliance program would be developed to help in ensuring that every member of the organization complies with the principles and values stipulated in this ethical code of conduct. Every member of the organization is encouraged to join our commitment to attain the goals and objectives. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital will be proud to see that all its members act in an ethical manner. Alexander Metropolitan Hospital aims to be a role model in the health care industry with regard to the provision of quality care services to people.
Consequences of Violation of the Ethical Code of Conduct
Compliance with the ethical code of conduct is mandatory. All workers must comply with the states principles and rules fully. Any employee who is found guilty of violating this ethical code of conduct shall be held accountable for his or her actions. Different actions such as the issuance of a warning, dismissal, and prosecution in a court of law may be taken by Alexander Metropolitan Hospital against an employee who does something illegal or ethical during his line of duty. The actions taken against the violator may differ depending on the severity of the violation. Besides, all employees are requested to report to the Compliance Manager or their supervisors any actual or suspected violations of this ethical code of conduct by employees.
Although this ethical code of conduct may not cover all the situations or challenges that might be faced organizational members of Alexander Metropolitan Hospital, it is intended to help employees make the right decisions and take the most suitable actions when carrying out their duties and responsibilities within the organizations. Any employee who observes something at the workplace that he or she considers wrong should report the matter to the relevant authority and appropriate action taken against the violator. To conclude, the development and implementation of the ethical code of conduct is vital for the attainment of the mission, vision, and goals of the organization hence it is an essential document at Alexander Metropolitan Hospital.
