Incorporating Ethics into a Medical Employee Manual

October 17th, 2016

There’s no denying the importance of ethics for any healthcare professional. Empathy and an ethical nature rank as two of the most necessary traits for those working in the medical industry. Even when boasting a staff made up of moral and right-minded people, ethics-related policies still need to be formally defined in any healthcare establishment’s employee manual — for both legal and patient care considerations.

With creating a living document covering all relevant topics in mind, here are some ideas on how to best incorporate a code of ethics in your medical organization’s employee manual.

The Nursing Code of Ethics is a Good Start

The American Nursing Association publishes its own Nursing Code of Ethics, which serves nicely as a starting point for any medical employee manual’s ethics section. All nurses are expected to follow the ANA code in their daily work routine. Encouraging the other medical professionals at your office to do the same by including the Code in your organization’s employee manual emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior.

Consider incorporating some of the Code’s content into your job descriptions as well. Other nursing organizations publish their own ethical codes which may offer additional insights relevant to your employees.

Your Employees are Accountable for their Own Ethical Behavior

Stress the accountability each employee holds for their own behavior — both actions and words. This needs to be clearly stated in the manual, either at the front of the manual itself or in the ethics section. Additionally, any discipline policies need to be explicitly defined, so everyone knows the consequences for unethical conduct.

Formalized Definitions are a Must

Make sure your manual offers a section that formally defines any terms referenced throughout the text, including the ethics section. This helps lessen any confusion when an ethical — or legal — issue arises. Place the section in the manual’s appendix for easy access.

Leverage Ongoing Education on Ethics

Simply putting an ethics section in your employee manual isn’t enough to ensure ethical behavior in your medical office — a point echoed by Martha Turner, assistant director of ANA’s Center for Ethics and Human Rights. “Ethics, like most other disciplines, must be learned. Ethics is not intuitive or just ‘being good,” said Turner. As such, providing an ethics training program nicely compliments the contents of any employee manual.

When you need further insights on managing your medical office, talk to the knowledgeable team at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s top healthcare staffing agencies, we offer great candidates able to contribute to your team. Schedule some time with us soon!

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