Munson Healthcare is committed to fostering and
facilitating ethical behavior in all its activities and in those
of its affiliates and subsidiaries. Munson Healthcare plays a
unique role in its community as a health care provider and employer,
and is committed to serving its constituents in an ethical manner.
This goes beyond minimum legal and regulatory standards, as validation
of the public trust.
Munson Healthcare is committed to developing and
fostering an institutional culture, which is devoted to the delivery
of quality medical care to all its patients, as well as to an
ethical allocation of its resources. This statement translates
the Mission
and Values of Munson Healthcare into a framework whereby ethical
issues and concerns may be assessed. Furthermore, it establishes
principles to guide Munson Healthcare's decisions and actions
and the social goals to which it is committed.
I. Patient-focused ethical issues:
Patient confidentiality and privacy will be respected.
Patient information will not be released without the authorization
of the patient or a person legally authorized to act on behalf
of the patient. Patient records are maintained in secured or attended
areas. Access to medical information is controlled, limited, and
audited. In compliance with the law, patients are granted, or
in rare circumstances denied, access to their medical records.
All patients will be treated with respect, dignity,
and courtesy. There will be no discrimination on the basis of
race, color, age, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual
orientation, ethnicity, national origin, or disability. If there
is evidence of abuse and/or maltreatment, protective services
will be provided and facilitated where necessary. The same standard
of care will be provided to each patient, regardless of the ability
to pay.
Advance Directives will be honored and there is
a process in place for assisting patients in making their wishes
known and for appointing an advocate, as a part of their Advance
Care Planning process. Educational material and a format for documenting
a patient's wishes and advocate are readily accessible throughout
the system. All employees will be expected to follow the patient's
preferences for treatment and these desires will direct his/her
care; furthermore, advance directives must be followed in the
course of treating incapacitated patients. Patients, and/or their
designee, will be kept informed of their diagnosis, available
treatments and risks, and their right to choose/refuse recommended
therapies.
Participation in research studies or clinical trials
will be offered only after approval of the Institutional Review
Board (IRB), and after full disclosure of benefits, risks, and
alternative treatments. All patients enrolled in an IRB-approved
clinical research study will be presented with an Informed Consent
document, which will fully explain the research protocol to which
they are giving their consent.
In cases involving a medical or moral dilemma, medical
futility, or a disagreement over a treatment plan, Munson Medical
Center's Bioethics Committee will be asked to assist in resolving
the dilemma and/or reaching consensus in the patient's best interest.
II. Community-focused ethical issues
Munson Healthcare will take a leadership role in
improving the health in the communities it serves and will work
with other health care and social agencies and organizations to
educate the community on health-related items. Thus the public
will have a better understanding of health issues, the services
available to prevent and treat illness and disease, and patient
rights and responsibilities relating to health care decisions.
To this end, Munson Healthcare will provide meaningful
clinical data to the consumers of healthcare in support of their
decision-making processes.
Munson Healthcare will work with governmental, corporate,
and private groups to facilitate and provide needed health services
to the uninsured and the underinsured.
As this area's largest health care provider and
largest single employer, Munson Healthcare understands that many
of its decisions will have an impact on the communities it serves.
It will be sensitive to these effects and open to input from the
community.
III. Employee (including Physicians and others)-focused
ethical issues
Every employee and medical staff member is expected
to behave with the highest degree of integrity, and to be honest,
fair and respectful. Munson Healthcare will promote teamwork and
collegiality between all members of its staff so that all are
working together for the well-being of patients. As members of
a team of healthcare professionals, it is expected that all will
treat one another with respect and dignity.
If any employee has a conscientious objection to
participation in certain aspects of patient care, the individual
will resolve that objection in advance, so that patient care is
not delayed or compromised.
Employees and Medical Staff are expected to adhere
to the professional standards of practice as delineated by the
specific professional licensing and accrediting organizations
for their discipline of practice. Employees are also expected
to abide by behavioral guidelines outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Employees and Medical Staff are expected to recognize the boundaries
of their abilities and the limitations of their expertise and
only provide those services for which they are qualified.
IV. Business-focused ethical issues
Munson Healthcare will conduct business with honesty,
fairness, and integrity.
Ethical Business Practices will be followed
by Munson Healthcare in its relations with patients, payors,
physicians, employees, and the public. Only services performed,
and supported with proper documentation and correct coding,
will be billed. Patients will be helped to understand their
bills and there will be an attempt at timely resolution of disputes.
Admission, transfer, and discharge of patients
will adhere to all ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements.
Conflict of Interest policies apply to all board
members, administrators,
employees, and members of the medical staff. These policies
will be followed and enforced, as will the policy on accepting
gifts.
In all its marketing and promotional activities,
and in its media relations, Munson Healthcare commits itself
to the importance of being truthful and accurate. False or misleading
information will not be knowingly disseminated. Errors for which
we are responsible will be corrected promptly.
Resource allocation will be based on patient,
market, community, and health care system needs and will include
the consideration of such areas as: Purchasing, Hiring/Firing/Staffing
Decisions, Admission/Transfer/Discharge Criteria, and Formulary
Decisions. The ethical implications of the various alternatives
available will be assessed.
Munson Healthcare will be in compliance with
all laws, rules and regulations which are applicable to its
activities.
Since patient care is the first priority of
Munson Healthcare, the integrity of the clinical decision-making
process will be honored, and business considerations will not
dictate individual patient care decisions.
If you are a Munson Healthcare patient and have a compliment,
concern, or complaint, please contact one of our Patient
Liaisons.
