Code of Ethics of a Healthcare Associate - Essay Example

? of Department, Dear , Please see attached article “Personal Ethics ment and Support Paper” by to be submitted as a personal statement of my code of ethics as a future Healthcare Associate (HCA). In this paper, I have come up with my own code of ethics as a future HCA. My personal statement of the code of ethics defines me as a person, my objectives, values and goals in my future career as an HCA. It will set a standard for me and set my course of actions whenever I would interact with my patients and colleagues. As a future healthcare provider, these are codes of ethics that I must adhere to everyday in order to succeed and maintain a good working relationship with the patients as well as colleagues to ensure that the trust is encouraged among people. I hope that the code of ethics that I have come up with would be of interest to you and inspire others who have plans to be a healthcare associate. Sincerely yours, Name of Student My Code of Ethics as a Healthcare Associate A healthcare professional is a person that people trust to provide them not only with medical attention but also treatment that is fair and appropriate according to the policies and laws governing healthcare. Therefore, as an ethical healthcare professional, I will ensure that I meet, if not exceed, the statements below in practicing my profession. I. To practice integrity and respect at all times ensuring that I uphold the values and regulations set by the healthcare system that I work for. II. To avoid exploitation of one’s position in order to achieve financial or personal gain at the expense of others. III. To value the trust given by the people and retreat from transactions or activities that could affect or have a negative impact on the healthcare system or the profession. IV. To treat everyone fairly and avoid discrimination at all times. V. To take on jobs that one can proficiently handle and has ample knowledge on based on trainings and experience on the subject. VI. To establish trust from patients as well as colleagues by helping in providing an environment that is safe and free from harassment, violations and any actions that give off a negative light on the system. VII. To provide sufficient information to patients to enable them make an informed decision regarding their health. VIII. To be truthful and honest in all forms of transactions with employees and patients. IX. To report any abuse on these codes to the ethics committee. As a healthcare practitioner, it is very important to adhere to the policies set by the healthcare system that one works for. Codes of ethics are in place for a reason (Dominion, 2010). By practicing integrity and respect not only to patients but also to colleagues, the environment becomes such that the transactions and/or interactions with everyone is done with integrity, respect for life and other’s opinions and preferences. It is sometimes unavoidable for people in position to exploit the power they have over others. It is very important that the people who can do something remain honest and with integrity so that the healthcare system continues to be trusted by the public. Using one’s power in order to advance another is not only selfish but also wrong. (American College of Healthcare Executives [ACHE], 1996) It sheds a negative image on the healthcare system and its workers. Therefore, when one can be paid off or be coerced whether by money or by other means, it becomes something that in very untrustworthy. One of the most important factors in this type of business is trust, therefore, by being fair and just, trust can be established. Earning the trust of patients is a little difficult since one has to establish credibility not only on giving them the correct solution to their concerns but also in keeping their confidences. Patients must have the peace of mind that their concerns or issues are kept at the strictest confidence and that it will not be disclosed to anyone else at any cost. (ACHE, 1996) This same principle goes to colleagues as well. It is very important that confidences given by colleagues are kept, not only to maintain a harmonious working relationship but also to create a peaceful environment that is supportive and conducive to working people being able to serve and give patients their best. Everyone should be treated fairly regardless of their race, religion, sexual preferences, age, gender, disability and ethnicity (ACHE, 1996). It is important that when patients seek the help of a healthcare provider, they know that they will be treated fairly regardless of the factors mentioned above. It is vital that patients can be at ease and feel that they will be looked after no matter what. This also applies to the people in the workplace. No preference should be given over another person as this is discrimination as well. A healthcare provider must also take on jobs that they can competently handle (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology [CSEP], 2011). It is very inappropriate, not to mention dangerous, to practice something that one has insufficient knowledge on. It not only endangers the life or the welfare of the patient but also portrays incompetence on the management and healthcare system to handle the needs of the patients. One of the most important factors to providing an excellent healthcare is to make sure that the people and patients can feel that they can trust the people treating them or surrounding them (ACHE, 1996). This is by making sure that abuse of any kind, exploitation, harassment and any form of wrongdoings against another are addressed and resolved in a fair and timely manner. Patients must be given sufficient information in order to make an informed decision (CSEP, 2011). They have to be given all the facts, the advantages and disadvantages of each option that they have in order to decide properly. They have to be aware of what they should be expecting so that they will be equipped for the outcome of such decisions. It is inequitable to give them partial information since some decisions need support systems, financial decisions to worry about and other matters that needed to be taken into consideration before one can decide. Honesty is a great virtue that one must not take for granted. It is making sure that in dealing with each person, whether it is a patient or a colleague that honesty is upheld (Dominion Corporate [Dominion], 2010). There are times that hiding the truth would be an easy way out, or something that might be easier to take but then again, by doing so, people around us are not given the opportunity to be aware of what really is going on and decide for themselves. This also applies to financial matters that may need to be reported as well. There would be times that upholding this ethic may conflict with what one personally believes in, but the code of ethics are in place to benefit everyone (Dominion, 2010). It is in everybody’s interests that these codes are put into place; to make sure that people are given what is just and fair, treated with respect and dignity and given the medical attention that they legally deserve regardless of their social background, status, race, gender, age, disability and customs, among others. Any violations to these codes of ethics should be reported immediately to the ethics committee as it is a violation on human rights (ACHE, 1996). References: American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). March 1996. In American College of Healthcare Executives Code of Ethics. Retrieved May 10, 2011. http://www.ache.org/abt_ache/code.cfm. Domnion Corporate. December 17, 2010. In Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. Retrieved May 10, 2011. http://www.dom.com/investors/corporate-governance/pdf/code-of-ethics-and-business-conduct.pdf Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). 2011. In CSEP Health & Fitness Program:  CSEP Certified Personal Trainer® and CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist®. Retrieved May 10, 2011. http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=734 Read More