INSTRUCTIONS Peer posts are expected to demonstrate critical thinking in their questions

INSTRUCTIONS

Peer posts are expected to demonstrate critical thinking in their questions related to the classmates’ descriptions.

Emma,

Management and healthcare professionals have different codes of ethics that they follow. The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Code of Ethics has several areas that it covers. Health care managers or administrators have multiple responsibilities ethically to the patient, organization, employees, and the community. One of the codes is The Healthcare Executive’s Responsibilities to Employees. This code outlines the obligations that the administration has to their employees, but it is not limited to just what is discussed. Some of the areas that the organization’s managers are responsible for is creating an environment that is healthy, inclusive, equitable, and without harassment just to name a few (American College of Healthcare Executives, 2021). The difference between the ACHE and the professional code is that the professional code deals with the healthcare professional offering and providing care to the patient. In the Nursing Code of Ethics, there are four main principles were created. Those four principles are autonomy, beneficence, justice, and nonmaleficence (Gaines, 2021). The formal code was created back in the 1950s and has been modified over the years. Autonomy gives nurses the ability to provide information to the patient about all possible avenues of treatment and let the patient make the final decision on the best course of treatment for them and their families. Beneficence is when the healthcare professional is acting for the best welfare of others and shows attributes such as kindness (Gaines, 2021). Justice is for the patient so that the nurse or other healthcare professionals treat the patient the same no matter the financial capabilities, race, sexual orientations, gender, or religion (Gaines, 2021). Nonmaleficence relates to the healthcare professional will not harm the patient and being there to help ensure patient safety (Gaines, 2021). All these principles deal with the patients whereas the ACHE Code of Ethics is dealing with aspects of the bigger picture of what needs to be completed and that on a whole patients, employees, leadership, and the organization perform and can receive care in the correct ethical manner. As times change the ethical code can add or have some adjustments to the way administrators and healthcare personnel. The pandemic has disruption to caring for patients. People are still less likely to seek care at hospitals or emergency facilities along with interruptions with care for several healthcare specialties and health systems all over the world are impacted (World Health Organization, 2022). COVID-19 has such a major impact on the different health organizations and professionals around the world by limiting the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) available. The burnout rate for healthcare professionals has increased due to exhaustion with the number of hours and days worked during the pandemic and with professionals working such long hours that makes you question if the leadership is being ethical about how they are scheduling and working the employees in their organization. Leadership needs to find the right balance to keep burnout from happening in times of crisis. Leadership should have a plan in place that is reviewed regularly on how to best combat the next possible pandemic/endemic to keep the healthcare professionals from burning out. This plan should also include a way to store a decided-upon amount of PPE and cleaning materials to help with possible shortages and an emergency fund that is specifically set aside to combat the need to rely on the government to either give out supplies of money to keep the organization functioning.                   

American College of Healthcare Executives. (2021, December 6). Ache code of ethics. American College of Healthcare Executives. https://www.ache.org/about-ache/our-story/our-commitments/ethics/ache-code-of-ethics

 Gaines, K. (2021, July 22). What is the Nursing Code of Ethics? Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/education/nursing-code-of-ethics/

 World Health Organization. (2022, February 7). Essential Health Services Face continued disruption during COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/07-02-2022-essential-health-services-face-continued-disruption-during-covid-19-pandemic

LYDIA

Code of conduct explains and organization’s’ mission, vision, and principles. Organizations develop code of conduct as a guiding principle to help establish expectations and behavior of all members of a group or the organization. A professionally written code of conduct allows for all stakeholders to understand expectations and guides in making ethical decisions. Code of ethics in healthcare involves healthcare professionals working and practicing within their scope of proficiency. Similarly, management of healthcare establishment have codes guiding their decision. For example, Human Resources Management code of ethics was developed to promote and maintain an elevated level of professional conduct among Human Resource (HR) professionals. SHRM assert the core principle of HR professionals is to add ethical value to an organization. HR “advocates for the profession by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value.” (SHRM, 2022). Management in health care organizations must honor codes sets by the organization to ensure their decisions reflect moral integrity and ethical leadership. ACHE explain that “healthcare executives have an obligation to act in ways that will merit the trust, confidence and respect for healthcare professionals and the general public.” (ACHE, 2022). There are similarities, however, management of healthcare settings are tasked to oversea the compliance of ethical and moral principles. One example of the code listed by ACHE.org is number III. – The Healthcare Executive’s Responsibilities to the Organization. D., “Lead the organization in the use and improvement of standards of management, leadership and sound business practices” (ACHE, 2022). Management work to ensure that both internal and external aspects of the organization meet local, state, and federal laws, while maintaining safe environment for both patients and their families, as well as the workforce. One specific portion of the code used by a health professional (nurse) is autonomy: “recognizing each individual patient’s right to self-determination and decision-making. As patient advocates, it is imperative that nurses ensure that patients receive all medical information, education, and options to choose the option that is best for them. This includes all potential risks, benefits, and complications to make well-informed decisions.” (Gaines, 2021). While Healthcare Management ensure ethical choices are made in the organization, nurses on the other hand work to ensure consistency with obligations.

References

American College of Healthcare Executives [ACHE]. (2022). ACHE code of ethics. https://www.ache.org/about-ache/our-story/our-commitments/ethics/ache-code-of-ethics

Gaines, K. (2021, Jul 22). What is the nursing code of ethics?

https://nurse.org/education/nursing-code-of-ethics/

SHRM (2022). Code of ethics. https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/Pages/code-of-ethics.aspx

VICKY

Do you think that health care is a legal right or an ethical obligation? Are we forced to honor this right or obligation? Why/why not? Explain.