ethical decision-making policy
Review the ethical decision-making policy in your health care organization. What do you perceive as the strengths of the policy and opportunities for improvement?
must be at least 500 words, APA format, two academic sources less that 5 years old.
see attachment for my organization policy
Tenet Standards of Conduct
Together we’re moving health forward.
1
Dear Tenet colleague,
Integrity and compliance matter every day, in every situation. It is central to everything we do as caregivers and operators. A strong culture of compliance helps ensure that our patients receive care that is focused on their needs, that our communities trust us to be responsible corporate citizens, and that our shareholders and other key constituents have confidence that we will do the right thing, every time.
Operating our business ethically and compliantly is both a collective obligation and an individual responsibility. Our Compliance Program represents a shared undertaking of all colleagues, ranging from our executives to the most junior employees. It was created to go beyond just knowing the rules; all colleagues are expected to take ownership of compliance and to perform all tasks with integrity.
The Standards of Conduct outlined in the following pages set the basic principles we must follow in order to earn and maintain the trust of our patients, communities, business partners, and shareholders. Of course, no set of standards can adequately anticipate every situation we might encounter at work.
When you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, reach out to seek help. Talk with your supervisor, your local compliance officer, call the Ethics Action Line at 1-800-8-ETHICS, or email us at ethics@tenethealth.com. You have the option to call or email anonymously 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When someone raises a good faith concern, calls the Ethics Action Line, or cooperates with an investigation or corrective action, retaliation against that person is strictly prohibited. By working together, we can create an environment where we uphold the spirit and values that define our company.
Thank you for all that you do to serve our hospitals, our patients, our clients, and our colleagues. Compliance matters and you truly do make a difference.
Sincerely,
Howard Hacker Chief Compliance Officer
Contents
Letter from Howard Hacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Our Mission and Values . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Care with Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 • Living Our Mission and Values • Making the Right Decision • See It. Say It. Fix It. • Ethical Decisions Guide • Commitment to Federal Programs
Care that Meets Our Standards . . . . . . . 5 • Standards Apply to All of Us • Managers’ Responsibility • Policies and Procedures • Tenet s Quality, Compliance, and Ethics Program Charter • Pre Clearance
Care with Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 • Culture of Transparency • No Retaliation • Ethics Action Line • See It. Say It. Fix It.
Care with Honesty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 • Medical Records • External Reports • Billing • False Claims Act • Bribes and Kickbacks • Government Inquiries • Fair Competition
Care about Each Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 • Care with Compassion • Teamwork • Privacy and Security • Social Media and Technology • Inappropriate Behavior • Diversity and Inclusion • Credentials • Safe and Drug-Free Workplace • Positive Workplace
Care about Limiting Gifts and Entertainment . . . . . 13 • Gifts, Entertainment and Business Meals • Permitted and Non-Permitted Items
Care about Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 • Avoid Conflicts • Disclose and Withdraw • Investing in Tenet
Care about Our Resources . . . . . . . . . . 17 • Protection of Assets and Information • Vendors • Communication • Insider Trading • Media Inquiries • Document Retention • Environment
Ethics and Compliance Support . . . . . . 19 • Ethics and Compliance Department • Contact the Ethics Action Line • Contact Other Departments for Assistance
Ethical Decisions Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Contact the Ethics Action Line at 1-800-8ETHICS or ethics@tenethealth.com 2
Terminology In these Standards of Conduct, the terms “Tenet,” “the company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Tenet Healthcare Corporation and/ or its subsidiaries or affiliates. The hospitals, facilities and programs described in these Standards are owned and/or operated by subsidiaries or affiliates of Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
Our Mission and Values
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”
At Tenet, our business is health care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of every patient who enters our doors. Our approach makes us unique and defines our future.
As we seek to improve the quality of our patients’ lives, to serve our communities, to provide an exceptional environment for our employees and affiliated physicians and provide an attractive return to our shareholders, we are guided by five core values:
• Quality. Quality is at the core of everything we do and every decision we make.
• Integrity. We manage our business with integrity and the highest ethical standards.
• Service. We have a culture of service that values teamwork and focuses on the needs of others.
• Innovation. We have a culture of innovation that creates new solutions for our patients, physicians and employees.
• Transparency. We operate with transparency by measuring our results and sharing them with others.
These values are the reasons our patients and physicians choose us, and we seek relationships with those who share them.
Contact the Ethics Action Line at 1-800-8ETHICS or ethics@tenethealth.com3
Care with Integrity
We define ourselves by our values. In 2003, Tenet’s board of directors and CEO set a new path for the company—one based on the values of integrity, service, innovation and transparency. The Standards describe how to make decisions that support these values. Because value- based decisions are so critical, these Standards are a condition of employment for every Tenet employee. They ensure that we make consistent decisions that are in the best interests of our patients, our shareholders and Tenet.
We do the right thing the first time, every time. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right,” and each Tenet employee has an obligation to do the right thing the first time, every time. Doing the right thing is your responsibility and nobody has the authority to instruct you to deviate from these Standards. Contact the Ethics Action Line if you feel that anyone has asked you to violate these Standards.
We see it, say it and fix it. At Tenet, if we see a problem, we “say it” by identifying it to others, and we fix it. Doing the right thing means standing up for Tenet’s values even when it is not convenient. If you see something that is wrong, say it and fix it. We must all hold each other accountable for doing the right thing, and you have the full support of Tenet when you do.
We get help when the right choice is not clear. If you need help or are unclear about what to do, you have the responsibility to get help. Use the Ethical Decisions Guide at the back of these Standards when you are confronted with a tough choice. You also can talk with your manager or hospital compliance officer or contact the Ethics Action Line.
We are committed to meeting federal health care program requirements. Tenet hospitals treat patients who are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and other federal health care programs. Federal health care programs have many requirements that are designed to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent only on care that is needed and of appropriate quality. Tenet is fully committed to following the requirements of all federal health care programs and failure to do so will lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Every day, Tenet employees are united by our mission to improve the quality of our patients’ lives. This common thread makes working for Tenet a special experience and receiving care at our facilities different from other health care experiences.
In order for every patient, physician and employee to experience this difference, it is essential that every Tenet employee uphold these Standards of Conduct.
These Standards define what it means to be a Tenet employee, and you simply cannot work here without committing to them.
What the Standards Mean to Me: • My decisions support Tenet’s values. • I am responsible for my decisions and doing the
right thing. • I raise issues that are inconsistent with our values. • I use the Ethical Decisions Guide when the
right decision is not clear. • I solve problems. • I comply with federal health care programs.
Contact the Ethics Action Line at 1-800-8ETHICS or ethics@tenethealth.com 4
Care that Meets Our Standards
When you strive to provide excellent service, standards are important. Standards are the lines over which we will not cross even if it would be convenient. The Standards of Conduct help us identify, learn and use those lines in our daily decisions.
We Are All Required To: • Read and certify your understanding of the Standards
within 30 days of employment and annually. • Use the Standards in your daily decisions. • Follow Tenet policies. • Talk about the Standards and their application with
your supervisor or manager. • Contact the Ethics Action Line with questions. • Report violations. • Participate in training on these Standards.
Additional Actions for Managers: • Set the right ethical tone in your work areas. • Explain how your decisions are based on our values
and these Standards. • Answer questions and support employees who…
