Competency
Evaluate public health policies and practices as they relate to legal and ethical implications for individuals and populations.
Instructions
You have recently been promoted to Health Services Manager at Three Mountains Regional Hospital, a small hospital located in a mid-size city in the Midwest. Three Mountains is a general medical and surgical facility with 400 beds. Last year there were approximately 62,000 emergency visits and 15,000 admissions. More than 6,000 outpatient and 10,000 inpatient surgeries were performed.
On your first day in the position, the CEO requested that you design a short in-service training session for employees on the importance of professional ethics and liability protections.
You will need to develop an information sheet that explains the similarities and differences between laws and ethics, and the impact of unethical practices on healthcare. An information sheet provides brief and clear information on the required subject. Often, bullet points are utilized in an information sheet; however, since employees will be expected to know and understand the material thoroughly, your information sheet should be more detailed and offer supporting evidence, including a reference list.
- The information sheet should give your employees enough information to understand the differences and similarities between ethics and laws, the impact of unethical practices on healthcare, and the importance of professional ethics.
- Make sure to use audience-specific language and tone in your information sheet. Remember, you are writing this information sheet for your co-workers; however, the CEO and the Board of Directors may attend.
- Be creative, and make your information sheet fun, yet still clearly organized.
NOTE – APA formatting for the reference list, and proper grammar, punctuation, and form are required. APA help is available here.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a healthcare professional, it is important to understand the differences and similarities between laws and ethics, and the impact of unethical practices on healthcare. This knowledge is crucial for providing high-quality care, protecting patients’ rights, and ensuring liability protections for healthcare providers. In this assignment, we will create an information sheet for employees on the importance of professional ethics and liability protections.
Answer:
The information sheet should provide a clear understanding of the differences and similarities between ethics and laws, the impact of unethical practices on healthcare, and the importance of professional ethics. Laws are official rules and regulations that are created by a governing body and enforced by the legal system. Ethics, on the other hand, are moral principles that guide decision-making and behavior. While laws and ethics share similar values, ethics focus on principles of right and wrong, while laws focus on duties and obligations.
Unethical practices in healthcare can have severe consequences, including patient harm, loss of trust, and legal and financial consequences for healthcare providers. It is imperative to prioritize professional ethics to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of healthcare services. Professional ethics include being truthful and honest, maintaining confidentiality, providing informed consent, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
To ensure understanding of the material, the language and tone of the information sheet should be audience-specific and easy to digest. Furthermore, the information sheet should be creatively organized and appropriately referenced using APA formatting guidelines.
In conclusion, understanding the differences and similarities between laws and ethics, the impact of unethical practices on healthcare, and the importance of professional ethics is essential for healthcare professionals. It helps to ensure that high-quality care is provided, patients’ rights are protected, and liability protections for healthcare providers are maintained.
