Case 1. Discussion
Beth is a recent graduate of an allied health program at the local community college. While in school, she had taken a course from a professor who she really admired and liked. In her first job out of school as a registration clerk at the hospital’s clinic, she happened to be assigned the professor to register as an outpatient for radiation therapy for a recently diagnosed cancer treatment. The two chatted as Beth input the professor’s information into the hospital’s EHR system. They talked about the course and how much Beth liked the course and the professor as a teacher. Beth thought about the professor all day and felt terrible to learn the professor was being treated for cancer. She knew many of her classmates also liked the professor, so after work she decided to contact her friends about the professor and suggest they send the professor a card. Beth shared the professor’s home address.
Case 2.
Jan Geisler is the HIM director at Hillside Medical Center. The administration at Hillside has just approved the budget which includes a new electronic health record. They assign Jan as the project manager and give her the task of reviewing and selecting the company (vendor) with the EHR that best suits the hospital’s needs. Jan immediately thinks of her college roommate Ana. Ana also majored in HIM and now works for a large EHR vendor in California. Jan sends a quick email to Ana to catch up and asks about her company’s EHR system. Ana responds immediately with updated pictures of her family and some general information about the EHR her company sells. Ana offers for her company to fly Jan to California so she can see the system and have a live demonstration. As an added bonus, Ana cannot wait to see her friend, take her to dinner and catch up. Jan goes to California and enjoys her time with Ana, but she is a little disappointed with the EHR system. She just doesn’t think it will meet the needs of her hospital. Jan has a meeting with the chief information officer today and is expected to present her recommendations. She feels obligated to recommend Ana’s company but she also has major concerns about their product.
1. What ethical issues can be found in Jan’s investigation of an EHRs? (NOTE: In the textbook, there is a typo it says Ana instead of Jan)
2 Was it a conflict of interest for Jan to do business with her personal friend Ana?
3. Using the ethical decision making model found in this chapter, analyze the scenario and recommend a decision.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor responsible for designing and evaluating assignments for medical college students, it is essential to address ethical issues in the healthcare industry. The following questions discuss ethical concerns in two scenarios related to healthcare professionals’ actions.
1. What ethical issues can be found in Jan’s investigation of EHRs?
Firstly, Jan’s bias towards her friend Ana’s company is a significant ethical consideration as it may impact her judgment and recommendations. Secondly, Jan’s lack of transparency regarding her personal relationship with Ana is another ethical concern. Lastly, Jan’s failure to prioritize the patient’s interests in selecting the EHR system could also be considered unethical.
2. Was it a conflict of interest for Jan to do business with her personal friend Ana?
Yes, it was a conflict of interest for Jan to do business with her personal friend Ana. Jan’s personal relationship with Ana compromises her ability to make unbiased decisions and fulfill her responsibilities to her employer and the patients.
3. Using the ethical decision making model found in this chapter, analyze the scenario and recommend a decision.
The ethical decision-making model consists of five steps: identify the problem, gather information, consider the options, decide and act, and reflect on the decision. Based on this model, Jan needs to disclose her personal relationship with Ana to her superiors, gather more information about other EHR vendors, and evaluate them based on objective criteria such as the cost, quality, and performance of the EHR systems. Jan should decide and act based on what is best for the patient and the hospital. Afterward, Jan should reflect on the decision and seek feedback from her colleagues to improve her decision-making skills.
