Ethical and Legal implications of Staff Morale Problems - Research Paper Example

Ethical and Legal Implications of Staff Morale Problems Health care organizations are becoming more and more concerned on how to support high levelsof staff satisfaction without sacrificing the quality of health care provided to patients. Beyea (2004) mentioned that “low morale can contribute to negative outcomes at both the patient care level and the department level. A member of the health care team experiencing low morale may perform at a lower standard of practice than usual.” (Beyea, 2004).

Low morale problems among health care staff can be rooted in various reasons. It can be caused by the increasing competition, downsizing, employee and patient safety concern, and the significant demand for health care services. But on top of all the factors mentioned, the legal implementation encompasses all these concerns would define the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system in general which encompasses all health care organizations. Let us cite the implementation of the national health insurance plan.

According to Wallis (2009), the physical health and well-being of the people in the country has been in a “proxy battle in partisan politics.” The American Medical Association (AMA) was accused of violating ethic s rules after they have has spent $200 million dollars as part of Truman’s national health insurance plan. The AMA had their doctors lobby their patients to oppose the legislation. This situation is somewhat similar during what happened in the 1970’s, when Nixon tried to pass a national health insurance plan.

The liberal democrats and unions, thinking that they can pass something after the mid-term elections for their own political credit, had successfully defeated the proposed insurance plan. The interests of the health care industry had aroused debate among parties and have threatened the chance for a public dialogue about what could be best for the current health care system. The pursuit for a good quality health care system has not been truly honest and sincere and has been covered by half-truths and misinformation.

Wallis mentioned that the “quality and affordable full access to health care.” He stated in his report that approximately around 46 million people in the country are not insured and does not have adequate coverage for medical needs. This is also directly related to last issue Wallis has identified, which is the rising cost due to medical bills which may result to the health care institution’s bankruptcy. Also, the economic downturn has required health care organizations to downsize and reduce employee benefits.

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) took a stand that health care executives must fulfil their responsibility to provide high-quality, affordable patient care amidst work force shortages. The health care organizations are indeed pinned in the middle of providing quality health care despite of the controversies in the partisan fights for national health policies. The present position of health care in the legislation has directly affected not only the patients or the supposed clientele of health insurance but also the workers who provide health care service.

However, the leaders in health care should always keep delivering good quality health care service through proper management of its workers to prevent poor morale problems.ReferencesBeyea, S. (2004). Employee Morale and Patient Safety. AORN Journal. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_6_80/ai_n8579098/ Donohue, L. (2009). Health Care Reform: A Moral Issue of Social Justice. Retrieved from http://blog.seattlepi.com/larrydonohue/2009/09/17/health-care-reform-a-moral-issue-of-social-justice/ Fink, Nicole. (n.d.). The High Cost of Low Morale.

Retrieved from http://www.roberts.edu/Academics/AcademicDivisions/BusinessManagement/msl/Community/Journal/TheHighCostofLowMorale.htm Moral and ethical imperatives of health care technologies: scientific. Legal and socio-economic perspectives. (2007). Indian Journal of Medical Ethics 2007 Jan-Mar; 4(1). Retrieved from http://www.issuesinmedicalethics.org/151fc35.html Wallis, J. (2009). Three Morale Issues of Health Care. The Hufftington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/three-moral-issues-of-hea_b_225103.html