Administrative Ethical Issues and Health Care Managers - Essay Example

Administrative Ethical Issues of the of the Administrative Ethical Issues How might health care managers become sensitive to administrative ethical issues? Taking care of ethics to avoid ethical issues is the responsibility of all health care managers and administrators. It is the reason due to which health care managers consider administrative ethical issues sensitively and deal with them. In an health care agency the health care managers and all other staff is directed to follow the ethical rules and regulation of the organization (Bonnie, 2009). For the survival and for the good reputation of the agency the ethics needs to be followed in this case health care managers are bound to follow the rules. When the health care managers do not practice the ethical rules the ethical issues rises in the agency. The administrative ethical rules designed for the good will of the patients and for the agency. Thus, managers are administrators are the key players that respond to the ethical complexities (Aroskar, 1998). 2. Is Dr. Williams method of rationing health care ethical? Why or why not? Support your reasoning. Dr. Williams is running his clinic and as an individual, he has many expenses in which maintenance of the office, staff salaries, rents, bills, supplies to purchase, insurance bills and responsibilities of family are included. Thus, he needs to earn a good amount for that if he refers new patients to other physicians who do not have medical insurance is not an unethical behavior. It is because with the help of medical insurance patients are able to pay all medical expenses. Those who do not have medical insurance, they ask for discounts and low price treatments that minimize the profit margin. Considering Dr. William’s claims that he has little choice, it will not be incorrect to state that if he is giving treatments to the patients who need urgent care for some time, he is playing his health care ethical roles. His method of rationing health care is an ethical behavior. The reason is that if the patient can easily go to visit other physician then the decision is not unethical because health care ethics are more concerned with the health of the patient. If referring patient is not causing any problems to the patients then ethically it is not wrong (Bonnie, 2009). Thus, it can be said that Dr. Williams rationing methods are beneficial for both patients as well as himself. 3. Granted that Community Hospital is in Danger of going bankrupt, is its decision ethical? Why or why not? Support your reasoning. In case of Community Hospital, their decision to lower their expenses by minimizing the emergency room timings is not an ethical decision. Although, the hospital is in danger of going bankrupt because its emergency room is the most expensive department of the hospital but, this step will severely restrict indigent patient’s access to care. Community Hospital suggested patients that they can get the emergency treatment from State Hospital that is seven miles away. Herein, it should be noted that the emergency departments are the most necessary part of the hospital because in case of any emergency the emergency department can save lives and deal with emergency situations at any time (Bonnie, 2009). If the department will remain close during 10:00 PM until 6:00 AM, many patients can suffer from death or any other serious lose. For cost-saving measure the hospital can minimize other expenses such as, they can decrease the number of staff from the hospital and minimize the unnecessary expenses from the hospital. But, the decision to close the emergency room for hours is not an ethical decision at all. It shows that the hospital do not care their patients and this decision is not ethical because there are other methods as well to control the overall cost rather than closing most important department for hours. In addition, patients and State Hospital both will be in trouble because poor patients will face trouble in traveling long distance without car and hospital will not be able to handle increased number of emergencies in a limited space (Stoudemire, 1998). 4. What are some of the issues that cause the most problems in high-risk medical areas? There are number of issues that evolve to create problems in high risk medical areas. The major consequences that can emerge with in the medical practices are ethical and legal concerns that may be questioned. It mainly involves administration and management rights to practice, as well as agency policies for the patient and community. The provision of right doctors, nurses to deliver promised services, treatment and medication for the patient. In addition, the concerns of ethical conduct to ensure the consent of its patient to provide adequate care for its patient. In addition, ethical dimensions involve support for the resources and support needed for its patients that may raise concerns regarding ethical values and principles that may lead to conflict (Garrett, Baillie, McGeehan, & Garrett, 2010). The first concern that is necessary to be addressed is the right and obligation of the patient that receives services. The health care professional and health institute’s administration and other employees should provided committed services to its patient. In addition, rights of the individuals and the society need to be addressed to sustain relationship between human communities. The protection of the right of the patient is the prior element for individuals to overcome. Moreover, the patient bills of right needs to be adequately dealt and addresses to have legal standing. The patients’ right should be addressed in a manner that they are provided equal treatment, rights and consent in each of the process of treatment (Garrett, Baillie, McGeehan, & Garrett, 2010). 5. State ten steps that may protect a physician and staff from liability. Explain There are few steps that can be taken to protect the physicians and staff from the liability. These steps involve the liability insurance at first place. The reason is that the liability insurance can save the physician by reimbursing the amount at the right time that was paid by the physician to recover from the liability. In other steps, practice of defensive medicine, alternative dispute resolution methods can also protect both physicians and staff from liability (Bonnie, 2009). There must be licensed medical staff because it lower the chances of mistakes as well as it save them from liability in case of any negligence. Furthermore, with the help of the arbitration, mediation, or med-arbitration methods that can play an essential role to protect from liability. It is also a strong step to protect the physician and staff from liabilities that malpractice insurance can cover the damages that was paid or sued for any malpractice or any lose. It is also possible that trainings to the staff by the physicians to control the overall work performances and methods to deal patients in their injuries and illness in an appropriate manner can also be beneficial (Garrett, Baillie, McGeehan, & Garrett, 2010). 6. Discuss the law of agency and why it is an important concept for the healthcare worker to understand. Whenever any legal relationship is buildup between two people at work in which one person agrees to exchange its services and commit to accept the requirements of the other person is known as law of agency. Herein, it should be noted that the in health care field the physicians use law of agency for their physician assistants, other medical staff such as nurses, technicians, and medical assistants. All those who are connected to the non-medical staff are not directed to work under the physician. Health care professionals and physicians are responsible to define the duties and necessary skills for the job with complete and detailed job discretion. It is necessary that all medical staff must be extra careful while performing his or her job. All physicians and medical staff should carry out all those procedures in which trainings have been attended by them. In addition, same as all other professions medical and health care profession also needs honest methods and procedures to be followed by the trained medical staff. it must be noted that the law of agency is not necessary between the pharmacist and the physician. The reason is that pharmacists are not legal agent of the physicians. They cannot be hired, fired or paid directly by the physicians. Thus, for pharmacist there are no law of agency is established. The law of agency is also known as respondeat superior. It contained detailed procedures and job responsibilities to be followed (Garrett, Baillie, McGeehan, & Garrett, 2010). References Aroskar, M. (1998). Administrative Ethics: Perspectives on Patients and Community-Based Care. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing , 3 (3), 1-4. Bonnie, F. F. (2009). Medical Law and Ethics. New York: Pearson Education. Garrett, T. M., Baillie, H. W., McGeehan, J. F., & Garrett, R. M. (2010). Health Care Ethics, Principles and Problems. New York: Pearson Education. Stoudemire, A. (1998). Human Behavior: An Introduction for Medical Students (3rd ed.). (A. Stoudemire, Ed.) New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More