Code of Conduct

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The Ohio State University Medical Center Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct

Each member of the Ohio State University Medical Center healthcare team is expected to adhere to the following fundamental principles of professionalism.

Altruism

• Placing the welfare of the patient above self interest, market forces, societal pressures, administrative exigencies, or other conflicts of interest

Honor and Integrity

• Forthrightness and honesty in sharing information with the patient and the healthcare team
• Willingness to admit errors and openness to corrective measures
  Respect for confidentiality

Caring and Compassion

• Treating others with sensitivity to cultural, religious or lifestyle differences
• Sharing information with sincerity and compassion

Respect

• Attention to the dignity and rights of all individuals
• Attention to the patient’s right to privacy

Responsibility and Duty

• Recognizing one’s own limitations, biases and educational needs
• Attention to hygiene, demeanor and dress
• Promptness and sensitivity to time commitments
• Recognition of a trust-based relationship with patients

Accountability

• For deadlines, assignments, and a share of team responsibilities including timely response and attention to letters, e-mails, phone calls and reports
• Compliance with policies and procedures and regulatory requirements

Excellence and Scholarship

• A commitment to lifelong learning, continuous personal, professional, and organizational improvement
• The ability to recognize individual weaknesses and knowledge gaps and to target these for improvement

Teamwork and Communication

• Recognize that healthcare rarely only involves a single individual and that most patient care requires a collaborative healthcare team.
• Open, respectful communication is required to achieve the highest level of team function
• Contribute to the team effort (e.g. offering assistance when others are busier)