Code of ethics
Ethical principles establish a set of professional behaviors and values that staff must know, and must abide by, including confidentiality, accuracy, privacy and integrity. The Hosparus Ethical Principles are adapted from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization:
Access. Promote access to hospice and palliative care services.
Admissions. Provide care, treatment and services to patients, clients and their families within the organization's capability and consistent with the Hosparus mission, vision and values.
Patient/client rights. Ensure the right to have cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
Conflicts of interest. Ensure that the integrity of decisions regarding care, treatment and services is not impacted by organizational and staff relationships with other care providers, institutions and payers.
Development and fundraising. Be open and transparent in soliciting and accepting support.
Discontinuation of care. Discontinue care only with voluntary consent or when the organization can no longer provide safe, competent care or provide care without compromising the ethical or professional integrity of the care providers.
External collegial relationships. Work cooperatively with others to provide safe, high-quality end-of-life care and act in accordance with the highest personal and professional standards.
Governance. Adhere to governance structures for the provision of safe, high-quality care, treatment and services.
Information management, confidentiality and privacy. Respect and protect confidential information.
Marketing and referrals. Ensure that marketing and referral practices accurately represent the organization and address the care, treatment and services that can be provided directly or by contractual arrangement.
Public information. Disseminate accurate, fair and timely information.
Research. Support the advancement of knowledge to improve the practice of hospice and palliative care while protecting and respecting patient/client rights.
Workforce relationships. Promote a culture of safety and quality where all individuals are focused on continuous excellence in performance and exhibit respectful interaction and practice in a financially prudent manner.
Ethics/compliance hotline
Anyone who has a concern or question related to compliance issues or ethical practice can report it by dialing (502) 459-2100, extension 4446 or (800) 264-0521, extension 4446. You can make this call anonymously, but direct feedback will be possible only if you leave your name and phone number. The director of quality and compliance will hold all inquiries and concerns in the strictest confidence. We will thoroughly investigate your concern, and we will take action taken as appropriate. If you would like to speak directly to the director of quality, compliance and support services, call 719-4197 or (800) 264-0521, extension 4446.
Quality and compliance program
The quality and compliance program has as its focus the ongoing assessment and improvement of safety, care and service. The scope and content of quality and compliance is designed to continuously monitor, evaluate and improve the safety and quality of care and service provided to patients/clients. Specifically, this includes:
- Clinical measures.
- Quality of care.
- Quality of service.
- Patient/client satisfaction.
- Bereavement care.
- Infection control.
- Patient safety.
The hospice program is designed to comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. The director of quality and compliance is accountable for monitoring laws and regulations specific to quality. The Hosparus board of directors is ultimately accountable for compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
Hosparus sites participate in state association reporting structures that allow financial, statistical and clinical performance comparisons with other hospice organizations. State and national benchmarking data is obtained through this reporting mechanism.
Policy related to corporate compliance
Hosparus does not tolerate fraud, waste, abuse or unethical behavior in conducting our business and delivering services to patients and families. We comply with all local, federal and state laws and regulations. Our employees are expected to act in a manner that upholds the law, and they are accountable for ethical behavior in their job performance. Employees are also expected to report any known activity that violates law or regulation.
To receive a copy of the Hosparus Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Plan or for more information, contact our director of quality, compliance and support services at (502) 719-4197 or toll-free at (800) 264-0521.
