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Ethics

By Mary Abernethy posted 07-29-2019 11:55

  
Good Afternoon Everyone,
I am a director at a small hospital. I have a couple of questions 
Has anyone ever hear of a hospital directing management staff to make rounds on patient and explain all the service that the hospital can provide?
Example We have a HH company and they want to go into the room and market these services along with additional services such as cardiac rehab, physical therapy ect... My issues is that I do not believe that  this is ethical to do to a captive audience - our patients. They already get a list of services when they get admitted.
2nd 
Our Home Health Company wants to go in then convise or decide the patient will need home health with a free evaluation to assure medications and environment is safe.  My response was that I would have to let any HH to come in and do the same.
3rd 
HH list for our patients : Marketing wants the list changed to include our home health and then anyone they want. I initiate the list and made the parameter 20 miles increasing our list to 4 companies When we go any farther we have a list of over 50. Marketing has decided to  eliminate that list  of 4 because the HH on the list is are prime competition. I replied it has to be the patient choice with out interjection from us and not setting a parameter for the people on the list is picking and choosing who you want on the list.
4th
If a patient arrives with a specific fall or diagnosis they want to make it a protocol to sent a request for a specific department to go visit a patient 
Example A elevated PT INR would refer to home health for review of meds. I understand the idea, I am not sure if this is the appropriate direction. Instead let case management , ED and nursing review with the patient to examine if there is an issue with the medication/ memory/ ect  

Can anyone give me direction to research these issues. I believe these are Ethical issues and I am receiving pressure but my gut is telling me this is wrong.
Thank You I appreciate any in-put 
Mary Kay
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08-31-2019 23:18

I, too, am a Care Coordination Director in a small community hospital.  I greatly advocate for patient choice and support the nurse case manager is a resource for any services or programs that may benefit the patient.  Patient should not be approached by any providers of service, whether or not owned or operated by the hospital, without prior patient approval.