This post contains the Principles of Partnership referred to in last week’s interview with Dr. Sockochoff. The document establishes the standards of behavior for the organization.
Ministry Medical Group
Introduction
The Medical Staff and Employees of Ministry Medical Group recognize their considerable interdependence in the rapidly-changing health care environment. They acknowledge that providing high-quality, cost-effective health care depends in large part upon their ability to develop trust, communicate well, collaborate effectively, be mutually supportive, and work as an effective team.
Medical Staff and Employees further acknowledge that there are many participants in the process of effective health care, including patients, their families, Allied Health Professionals, and others, and that working harmoniously with them is a necessary aspect of modern health care. Both parties affirm that everyone, both recipients and providers of care, must be treated in a dignified, respectful manner at all times in order for their mutual goal of high-quality health care to be accomplished.
Medical Staff and Employees further affirm that it is their mutual responsibility to work together in an ongoing, positive, dynamic process that requires frequent, continual communication and feedback. Both agree to devote the necessary time and resources toward achieving these goals.
Principles
In order to accomplish these goals, Medical Staff and Employees agree to the following principles and guidelines. Both parties agree to work collaboratively to promote them in the organization and in the community.
1. Respectful Treatment
All members of the health care provider team (physicians, hospital employees, Allied Health Professionals, vendors, contract personnel, etc.) and all direct and indirect recipients of health care (patients, their families, visitors, etc.) shall be treated in a respectful, dignified manner at all times. Language, nonverbal behavior and gestures, and attitudes shall reflect this respect and dignity of the individual at all times. Medical Staff and Employees also agree to exercise commonly-accepted principles of social interaction and courtesy in their dealings with others.
2. Language
Medical Staff and Employees agree to use respectful language and demeanor, and not to use language that is disrespectful, profane, vulgar, intimidating, degrading, sexually suggestive or explicit, or prejudicial (racially, ethnically, religiously, etc).
3. Behavior
Medical Staff and Employees agree to behave respectfully toward others at all times, and to refrain from any behavior that is disrespectful, profane, vulgar, intimidating, demeaning, harassing, humiliating, or sexually inappropriate. This includes but is not limited to: obscene gestures, violation of reasonable personal space, yelling, throwing of objects, menacing gestures, unwanted or sexual touching, degrading or sexually-oriented jokes or comments, or requests for personal or sexual favors. It also includes making inappropriate comments regarding physicians, hospital employees, other providers, or patients.
4. Confidentiality and Privacy
Medical Staff and Employees agree to maintain complete confidentiality of patient care information at all times, in a manner consistent with generally-accepted principles of medical confidentiality and HIPAA. The parties also recognize that practitioners and hospital staff have the right to have personal or performance problems and concerns about competence discussed in a confidential manner in a private setting. Medical Staff and Employees agree to maintain this confidentiality and to seek proper, professional, objective arenas in which to deal with these issues. It is particularly important that patients, families, and other hospital visitors not overhear such discussions.
5. Respectful Communication and Feedback
Verbal and written communication, including chart notes and other documents, should be respectful and professional in language and tone. Communication about a physician or employee should be made directly to that person, in a constructive manner, in objective, behavioral terms, without impugning motives. It is not appropriate to make critical comments about others to a third party or to relay gossip.
Medical Staff and Employees recognize the need for an organizational chain of command, in order for the Medical Center to run smoothly and efficiently. Both parties recognize the need for each others’ input regarding quality and performance. Employees recognize the importance of Medical Staff in the education of employees. However, significant concerns about performance need to be made through appropriate channels, i.e. to supervisors, and not directly to employees. Medical Staff agree to take these concerns about employee performance or hospital issues through the appropriate chain of command. Both parties agree to engage other parties in constructive and timely dialogue and to work collaboratively to address these issues.
6. Supporting Rules and Regulations
Medical Staff and Employees recognize the need for certain rules and regulations for all to follow, in order to assure the smooth, harmonious, and safe functioning of the Medical Center, both clinically and otherwise. Both parties agree to abide by these regulations, including such things as relate to safety, scheduling, confidentiality, documentation, parking, traffic, HIPAA, and the like.
7. No Retribution
Medical Staff and Employees agree not to engage in any behavior that could reasonably be considered retribution, such as: making implied or direct threats, physically-intimidating behavior, withholding information, refusing to speak to coworkers, attempting to find out who might have registered a complaint, etc.
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