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IRWIN COUNTY HOSPITAL AND PALEMON GASKINS NURSING HOME CODE OF CONDUCT

FOREWORD

This booklet was designed to provide information to assist you in making the right decision when you encounter a situation involving legal or ethical issues in your daily activities.  Obviously, the Hospital’s Code of Conduct (the Code) cannot cover every aspect of your job.  The Hospital has many employees and contractors that are all governed by specific laws, regulations, and policies.  The Code contains the principles that govern our conduct.  Specific compliance policies are included in the Compliance Program and in the written policies and procedures of each department.  When you are confronted with an unusual situation or you have any doubts about the proper course to follow, a variety of resources are available to answer your questions and concerns.

Each contractor and related entity must comply with the Hospital’s Code of Conduct.  The Hospital will develop processes and procedures for each contractor in working with the compliance committee to promote and ensure that all contractors or related entities are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.  Contractual provisions in arrangements with contractors must require ongoing monitoring to be performed by or on behalf of the Hospital.

See Communication of Code of Conduct, Policy No. 001

Over the years, the Hospital, and its affiliates have established numerous policies and procedures to promote compliance with sound legal and ethical principles.  Those policies and procedures are not all included or described in this Code of Conduct.  Nothing contained in this booklet is intended to replace or supersede those established policies and procedures.

QUALITY OF CARE

The Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality patient care and delivering services that are responsible, appropriate, and cost-effective.  We have a duty to report any actual or perceived quality of care issues to our supervisor or the Compliance Officer, either directly or by calling the compliance hotline.

PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES SERVED
  • Patients will be provided with the highest quality services without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, age, disability, religion, national origin, or ability to pay.
  • Patients will receive considerate and respectful care with recognition of their dignity and right to privacy.
  • The Hospital intends to employ personnel with proper credentials, experience, licensure, and expertise to meet the needs of our patient population, and it shall take reasonable steps to do so.  It is the responsibility, therefore, of the employee to maintain the proper credentials, licensure, and expertise necessary to perform the functions for which he or she was hired.  Management is obligated to verify credentials on a regular basis.
PATIENT COMMUNICATION
  • Patients have the right to know the identity and role of all the Hospital personnel who provide services to them.  Patients may also request information regarding the qualifications of those personnel providing services to them.
  • Patients have the right to receive information regarding the Hospital’s policies, procedures, and charges.
  • All questions from patients will be answered promptly and courteously or they will be referred to the proper source of information.
  • Patients have the right to participate in decision-making regarding their healthcare, to include refusing treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the potential consequences of such action.
  • Patients have the right to voice their complaints about care and services received.  All individuals have the right to complain about uses and disclosures of protected health information (PHI) as defined by the Final Privacy and Security Rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
  • In addition, the Hospital may be required to notify patients of a breach of the privacy or security of the patient’s PHI in accordance with the most recent Breach Notification Rules.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS & REGULATIONS

It is the Hospital’s policy to conduct its business in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards. As employees and contractors, we have the duty to report any actual or perceived violation of applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards to our supervisor or the Compliance Officer, either directly or by calling the compliance hotline.

GENERALLY
  • We provide services that are appropriate and safe and conduct our business affairs in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.
  • We compensate healthcare professionals and other providers at fair market value and only for documented services provided.
  • We never pursue a business opportunity that is unethical or illegal.
  • We conduct our marketing efforts with truth, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility to patients, the communities we serve, and the public at large.  Marketing materials reflect only those services available as well as their level of licensure and accreditation.  We also comply with applicable laws and regulations dealing with truth in advertising and non-discrimination.
  • We record all financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and established financial procedures and internal control

Irwin County Anonymous Compliance Hotline

The Irwin County Hospital provides a reporting hotline for employees to anonymously report specific incidents.

To view these types of reportable incidents in English, please CLICK HERE.

To view these types of reportable incidents in Spanish, please CLICK HERE.

For additional information, CLICK HERE.