Responsibilities of Non-Profit Health Care Organizations - Essay Example

"Responsibilities of Non-Profit Health Care Organizations" is a delightful example of a paper on the health system. Healthcare centers have the responsibility of operating within the confines of ethical values especially in making key decisions. For example, health care centers should first evaluate ethical issues when faced with such decisions as closure regardless of the cause. To facilitate a better understanding, it is essential to consider a more specific example such as making a decision on the closure of one of the Memorial Medical Center (MMC) clinics based on financial losses (Nelson, 2005). However, although such a scenario may threaten the existence of other MMC clinics, a decision made requires considerations on its implications to the community.

In this particular scenario, MMC can explore several options enabling it to settle one that is line with its objectives and also the wellbeing of the community in relation to ethics. Some of the available options include the closure of the clinic bringing losses and remaining open followed by the implementation of strategies to avoid losses. Since the main consideration in making such a decision is connected to ensuring compliance with ethical issues, MMC should undertake an ethics self-assessment. This enables a critical reflection on ethical standards as stipulated in the ACHE Code of ethics consequently allowing an informed decision to be made (Ethics self- assessment). However, the decision arrived at should strike balance between the needs of MMC and the community. As such the decision should not only include people directly linked to MMC but also community leaders. This is in order to have the justification of the decision made in regard to all stakeholders including the public. Baring this in mind, the most appropriate decision would arguably be to remain open. This decision is justified by the considerations of the position of the clinic in a relatively low-income status area. Closing the clinic will deprive people in the area of health care services that should be the core values behind the operation of the health care center. However, this decision requires the formulation of new strategies that prevent financial losses accrued by the clinic.

To ensure the sustainability of the clinic MMC may consider applying for tax-exempt status. This would enable the relatively low income earned to be used for the maintenance of the clinic while ensuring the provision of high-quality services. As such, regardless of the low-income status of the people inhabiting the area of operation, the clinic would still be in a position to offer quality health services at affordable prices. Considering the implications and importance of health services, it may be considered fair for hospitals whose operations are threatened by financial status to apply for tax-exempt status. This is because the overall benefit is greater than the monetary concerns even to the state through taxation. As such, attaining a tax-exempt status would enable the MMC clinic to continue with its operations while simultaneously having solved the problem leaving all parties satisfied. This is in correspondence to ACHE’s ethics provisions that charge health centers with the responsibility of “promoting decision making that results in the appropriate use of power while balancing individual, organizational and societal issues” (Ethical Decision Making for Healthcare Executives).