Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals by George D. Pozgar

Author:George D. Pozgar [Pozgar, George D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Medical, Allied Health Services
ISBN: 9781449684860
Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning
Published: 2012-02-07T14:00:00+00:00

REALITY CHECK: Integrity Can Be Lost Through Greed

Forever Anonymous, Inc. (FA) employees are prohibited from inspecting accredited health care organizations during their employment with FA. In addition, employees are prohibited, for three years following termination, from consulting with any organizations they may have surveyed during their tenure with FA.

It is believed that not all members of FA’s leadership have been following this policy after their termination of employment. Employees were questioning amongst themselves, does this policy apply only to rank-and-file employees, or does it include FA’s leadership? Should the FA board investigate what former FA leaders have been consulting with health care organizations and in what capacity? One high-level FA director was believed to have been consulting in Texas and Hawaii. In FA lingo, should the board “pull the threads” and investigate what members of leadership have consulted and/or continue to consult? And what is the propriety of such consultations?

The importance of this policy is apparent. Some hospitals during a survey, through their leadership, often let it be known to the inspectors, accidentally of course, what former members of FA’s leadership they have been consulting with to prepare for their annual inspection, expecting some leniency will be shown by the inspectors during the inspection process. Yes, unfortunately, there are often some members of an organization’s leadership who are more concerned about the results of an inspection and how it might affect their jobs than about how it affects the quality of patient care in their organization.

Discussion

1. How should the FA board address this issue?

2. Does the leadership have an unfair advantage in the consulting world, not only by virtue of their position, but also by policies that favor their consulting efforts?

3. Is this more of the same, American greed on the corporate level in a not-for-profit organization?

4. Is this a form of restraint of trade?

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