Discussion Prompt 1: This week, you learned about organizational ethics and its importance in the medical field. We have spent the majority of the course discussing the importance of ethics in medical decisions and medical treatment, but ethics on the business side of a medical facility is just as important. We have taken time to discuss some ethical concerns related to business, such as treatment of employees, but all actions related to running a business have to be ethical for a business to be successful.
For this discussion prompt, use the St. Martha’s General Hospital Scenario. After reviewing that scenario, the information regarding organizational ethics that you learned this week, and all of the material that you have learned thus far, discuss the culture of ethics at St. Martha’s. Give specific facts from the scenario that describe the culture of ethics, related to both the medical and the business side of the facility. Then, discuss at least three ways that the ethics committee and healthcare administrators can improve the culture of ethics at St. Martha’s.
Complete your Week 7 required discussion prompts:
Discussion Prompt 3: Although financial penalties have dramatically increased in recent years, the likelihood of being inspected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is relatively low. Do you think that increasing financial penalties is an effective way to lower injuries at workplaces? Explain.
Discussion Prompt 4: Catalog all the injury prevention mechanisms that you encounter directly or indirectly as you walk around your house, your neighborhood, or your workplace for 30 minutes. For instance, what are the major injury prevention and control measures in your car? Attempt to include educational, environmental, and engineering solutions in your list.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Organizational ethics is crucial for the success of a medical facility. As a medical professor, I design and conduct lectures on ethics in the medical field. I evaluate student performance and provide feedback through examinations and assignments. In this answer, I will address the following questions related to organizational ethics.
Discussion Prompt 1:
The scenario of St. Martha’s General Hospital highlights various ethical concerns related to the business side of a medical facility. The culture of ethics at St. Martha’s appears to be questionable. The administrators prioritize profits over patient care. The scenario also depicts the mistreatment of employees, lack of transparency, and unethical conduct of the senior management.
To improve the culture of ethics at St. Martha’s, the ethics committee and healthcare administrators must take some measures. Firstly, they should prioritize patient care over profits. The administrators should ensure that their decisions align with ethical principles to provide quality care to patients. Secondly, the administrators must be transparent in their operations and decision-making processes. Transparency will improve accountability, which is necessary for building a culture of ethics. Lastly, the management needs to create policies and guidelines that promote ethical behavior in the organization. The management should provide ethics training to all employees to ensure that ethical conduct becomes a norm.
Discussion Prompt 3:
Increasing financial penalties could be an effective way to lower injuries at workplaces. The threat of financial penalties could encourage organizations to provide a safer work environment for their employees. However, financial penalties alone may not be sufficient to mitigate safety concerns at workplaces. Employers must prioritize employee safety and provide a work environment that is free from hazards. Additionally, they must develop and implement safety protocols and guidelines to promote safe working conditions.
Discussion Prompt 4:
Injury prevention mechanisms are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals. Injury prevention mechanisms in a household may include the installation of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits. The use of non-slip mats, handrails, and adequate lighting in bathrooms and stairwells could also prevent falls and injuries. Similarly, seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes in cars could prevent injuries in case of a collision.
Engineering solutions could also prevent injuries in workplaces. The installation of safety guards, barriers, and warning systems in machinery could prevent occupational injuries. Environmental solutions such as noise barriers, ventilation systems, and ergonomic workplaces could also improve employee safety and health. Educational solutions, such as training and awareness campaigns, could also promote safety and prevent injuries at workplaces.
