Ethics, Rights, and HIV/AIDS

Introduction

The USA Infectious Disease Community Clinic has been criticized sporadically from their HIV/AIDS consumers concerning ethical treatment, and denials of services. This 150- bed clinic is the only clinic that specializes in infectious diseases entirely, and the only clinic like this throughout the entire region. The healthcare administrator has to ensure all patients are being treated with dignity, and receiving exceptional care. In order, for the administrator to do so, they will have to explore the concerns of the consumers, perhaps revise the ethical policy and procedures, and discover techniques to reassure the community the clinic is there for them. Phase One: Develop a strategy to confirm that patients were denied services as stated in their claims. The plan will also revise the current policy and procedures; and create new policies for services denials and professional training. Phase Two: Develop a strategy to communicate the principal legal consequences to the entire professional staff of the clinic. Especially, the ethical treatment of the clinic’s patients. Phase Three: Create a marketing strategy reiterate the distinctive services the clinic offers, and what the clinic has done to correct the consumer’s concerns.

Plan Investigating Denial of Services

USA Community hospital takes all concerns from patients and visitors very seriously. We have a patient review team that is in place. This team helps to address concerns and mediate concerns promptly that are given by the caregivers/families the patients themselves concerning poor communication and service delays among staff. The team also investigates any denials of service or care while staying at our hospital or auxiliary clinics. At our facility, our policy is to respond quickly to patients who have articulated concerns or issues to us and need immediate assistance. “The organization will respond by immediately offering an apology on behalf of the organization, listening to the patient’s concerns, and offering the best solution that we can to the problem” (Pozgar,2012). USA Community Hospital utilizes the following methods and concepts to address a complaint or concern raised by patients or family members:

1. Apologize
2. In place of USA Community Hospital
3. Attend to the concern/complaint/issue that has been raised
4. Acknowledge
5. By understanding the patients’ needs and assessing the situation
6. Offering and providing assistance to the patient and families/caregivers
7. Amends
8. Address the problem and find a solution if it’s probably
9. Direct the complaint or concern to the team of case review

In the case where the auxiliary clinic that the grievance happened is unable to find a solution to the concern, the concern is directed to the case review team for further review. This review team forms a Committee that will be a make-up of around ten employees chosen by the administration of the facility and composed of local helpers together with individuals acknowledged by the management to be an asset to the process. An example would be volunteer doctors, lawyers, health care workers, etc. The committee members will come from an array of backgrounds and departments (Pozgar, 2012). There will be designated leadership for the group. This will consist of two chosen leaders of the case team. Every case Team review team members will be chosen in cases where there are complaints or concerns raised.

The committee will have a record of all the meeting minutes, including summaries of current cases and current recommendations that have been made. The minutes will lack details about family or the patient that have requested the case review. “If the individuals or patients want to remain anonymous, they are allowed to remain anonymous during the investigation and review process. The committee will work as fast as possible to make a decision, but not neglecting to review the case well or neglect the validity of the case” (Littleton, Meemon, Breen, et al., 2010). Once the review is complete, and the complaint is found to be accurate, then disciplinary actions will be implemented and documented in the personnel file of the healthcare professional.

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Analyzation of how staffing levels play a role in ethical conduct

Having different staffing levels at the organization helps our employees to make a sound ethical decision in their job roles. What the hospital is implementing is a checks and balances type of system. The different levels of nurses help to ensure that the patient’s care is kept in the best interest of the employees. Many employees will stand up for what is morally and ethically right. With that being said, there are always individuals that are not ethical and not moral, and they will push the boundaries and try to breach ethics and morals. This makes their job “easier,” to them only, to accomplish. Because of this, all employees will understand the code of ethics that USA Hospital has established; when one employee is not following the code of ethics, another employee has the right to redirect them or report them. There will be an anonymous line set up to address potential employee ethic concerns and for employees to submit a complaint, anonymously, if they choose to do so.

Treating patients with care, dignity, and utmost compassion is a value that USA Community Hospital has and is committed to. If there is any work that sees their colleague maltreating a patient or abusing them, the worker is expected to instantly go to his or her supervisor or call the ethics line and to report the issue. All of the employees at the hospital are held to this standard. When The reporting process is in place, it is easier for the workers to share ideas they may and to question if something is being done morally. It also gives employees an opportunity to stand up for the right thing without potential recourse. (Littleton, Meemon, Breen, et al., 2010).

Plan for primary legal ramifications for treatment of HIV/AIDS patients

Regardless of their origin or nature, all of our patients that are provided care at our facility are to be treated with the utmost dignity, respect, and compassion. It is unprofessional of workers to critic or to express discrimination of any patient that is receiving treatment. As healthcare professionals, there is certainly a legal and an ethical requirement to offer the finest standard of care to all of our clients/patients. This also comprises the clients/patients that are HIV positive or have AIDS. “As a patient of the hospital, the individual will be provided equal services as the rest of the patient population. All safety procedures will be followed regardless of the individual’s medical status” (Kenny, 2004).

“There are legal actions that can be brought to this facility if a patient is denied services due to their HIV status or if they have AIDS” (Kenny, 2004). There will not be a single patient that will not be treated in our facility by their HIV/AIDS status. If a patient were to be turned away and experienced a medical emergency, the hospital would be held liable for negligence and also refusing to provide care under the EMTALA act if they came through in the emergency room. All patients, under the HIPAA law, have a right to the confidentiality of their medical records. The hospital is willing to keep the patient’s information as private as possible. We do have a right to let the patient know that if a hospital employee were to contract HIV from them while following all proper policies and procedures, the patient could potentially be held liable.

All employees of the organization will go through annual training for HIPAA regarding patients’ rights, and legal ramifications for violating the hospital’s policies and procedures that are in place. This is to ensure that all employees have a good understanding and recognize our facility’s stance on our ethics and values of care. The employees will also complete an OSHA, or occupational health and safety training, on proper health and hygiene, glove use, sanitation use, and the disposal of biohazardous materials.

Community Relations plan unique to treating patients with HIV/AIDS

USA Community hospital will always treat patients equally, regardless of who they are or what they have. We want all patients to feel safe and secure when they enter our hospital doors for treatment. “The last thing that any organization wants is for HIV/AIDS patients to feel is that they are quarantined and kept away from other patients” (Harding, Gray, & Neal, 1993, p. 298). HIV/AIDS individuals already receive enough negative stigma and stereotyping in the world. We want our hospital to be a safe place for them. Our hospital will strive to make sure that people do not feel that way and that we embrace them and provide the service and care they need in every way possible.

Education will be a key factor that will ensure our staff understands the risk associated with working with patients that are HIV positive or have AIDS. The employees will be given education on proper hand hygiene, glove usage, and disposal of biohazardous materials. Employees will understand that when these are implemented, the risk of contracting HIV is lowered.

Patient privacy is essential a USA Community Hospital. “All patients that come through our doors to receive care can be confident their medical information will not be shared with anyone unless we have permission from the patient to share it with someone else” (Harding, Gray, & Neal, 1993, p. 301). We will monitor employee access to various medical files on a daily basis and will run audits on this information. If an employee is found to be accessing patient charts that they are not authorized to, they will be subject to immediate termination.

Patients with HIV/AIDS will be able to access all the necessary medical care that they need at our hospital. There will be trained counselors on hand and volunteers for newly diagnosed patients to talk to if they feel the needs. Our hospital will employ providers that have experience and a specialty working with HIV/AIDS patients. We want to ensure that all patients will receive the best state of the art care and that our hospital is up to date with the latest medical technology and treatment for the specific needs of the HIV/AIDS patient.

Women with HIV/AIDS will have a place to come and receive counseling about the possibility of having children or becoming pregnant. “For a pregnancy to be a healthy pregnancy, early intervention, detection, and preventative measures are needed” (Steiner, Finocchario-Kessler, Dariotis, 2013). The philosophy of USA Community Hospital is that if you are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, that does not mean that you have to stop living your life. You should have the resources and access to enjoy your life as everyone else does.

References

Harding, A., Gray, L., & Neal, M. (1993). Confidentiality Limits with Clients Who Have HIV: A Review of Ethical and Legal Guidelines and Professional Policies. Journal of Counseling & Development, 297-305.

Kenny, E, P. (2004, August 01). The changing face of AIDS. Nursing , (8), 56, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Littleton, V., Meemon, N., Breen, G., Seblega, B., Paek, S., Loyal, M., Ellis, N., Wan (2010, April 01). An ethical analysis of professional codes in health and medical care. Ethics & Medicine , (1), 25, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Pozgar, G. D. (2012). Legal aspects of health care administration . (11th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Steiner, R., Finocchario-Kessler, S., Dariotis, J. (2013, August 01). Engaging HIV Care Providers in Conversations with Their Reproductive-Age Patients About Fertility Desires and Intentions: American Journal of Public Health , (8), 1357, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com