Professional Ethics
Content Provided by the
CSA Excellence Presentation Series
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Agenda
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Overview of the Code of Ethics
Review of Principles and Guidelines
Relation to HIM Practice and How to Use
Discussion of Ethics Tools
Case Studies
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Code of Ethics Defined
• “Adopted by a profession or an organization to regulate that
profession….will discuss difficult issues, difficult decisions that will
often need to be made, and provide a clear account of what
behavior is considered "ethical" or "correct" in the circumstances…
failure to comply can result in expulsion from the professional
organization.” Wikipedia
• “Outlines the mission and values of the business or organization,
how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical
principles based on the organization's core values and the
standards to which the professional will be held.” Investopedia
• “Standard of morals by which a group makes decisions about what
is right or wrong.” Your Dictionary
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Purpose
The AHIMA Code of Ethics serves seven purposes:
1. Promotes high standards of HIM practice
2. Identifies core values
3. Summarizes broad ethical principles reflecting
core values
4. Establishes set of ethical principles
5. Establishes a framework for behavior and
responsibilities
6. Provides ethical principles for general public to
hold the HIM professionals accountable
7. Mentors new practitioners
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Code of Ethics
http://bok.ahima.org/doc?oid=105098#.Vt9quk3fPxY
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Sections of Code of Ethics
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Preamble
Purpose
Principles
Guidelines
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Preamble
• Why have a Code
• Core health information issues:
– What information to be collected
– How information handled
– Who should have access
– Under what conditions disclosed
– Retention of Information
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Principles & Guidelines
The code includes principles and guidelines
that are both enforceable and aspirational.
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Principle I
Advocate, uphold, and defend the individual's
right to privacy and the doctrine of
confidentiality in the use and disclosure of
information.
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Principle II
Put service and the health
and welfare of persons
before self-interest and
conduct oneself in the
practice of the profession
so as to bring honor to
oneself, peers, and to the
HIM profession.
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Which item below might be a
violation of Principle II?
1. Including a paragraph from an HIM
textbook in your article without
referencing the source.
2. Reviewing your colleague’s health record
to see why she is hospitalized.
3. Telling a subordinate to change the chart
log to inflate the number completed.
4. All of the above
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Principle III
Preserve, protect, and secure personal health
information in any form or medium and hold in
the highest regards health information and
other information of a confidential nature
obtained in an official capacity, taking into
account the applicable statutes and regulations.
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Principle IV
Refuse to participate in or conceal unethical
practices or procedures and report such
practices.
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Guidelines HIM professionals shall not:
Participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty, fraud
and abuse, or deception. A noninclusive list of examples
includes:
• Coding to impact payment or an inappropriate level of service
• Miscoding to avoid conflict with others
• Hiding or ignoring review outcomes, such as performance
data
• Failing to report licensure status for a physician
• Recording inaccurate data for accreditation purposes
• Allowing inappropriate access to genetic, adoption, health, or
behavioral health information
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Which item below might be a
violation of Principle IV?
1. Knowing the policies and procedures for
handling concerns about unethical
behavior.
2. Recording inaccurate data for
accreditation purposes.
3. Cooperating with law enforcement as
appropriate.
4. All of the above
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Principle V
Advance health information management
knowledge and practice through continuing
education, research, publications, and
presentations.
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Principle VI
Recruit and mentor students, staff, peers,
and colleagues to develop and strengthen
professional workforce.
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Principle VII
Represent the profession to the public in a
positive manner.
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Principle VIII
Perform honorably health
information management
association responsibilities,
either appointed or elected,
and preserve the
confidentiality of any
privileged information
made known in any official
capacity.
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Principle IX
State truthfully and accurately one’s
credentials, professional education, and
experiences.
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Which item(s) below might be a
violation of Principle IX?
1. RHIA credential revoked based on failure to
complete recertification requirements, yet
continues to use.
2. Submitting a colleague’s certification
certificate with your name to new employer.
3. Declaring CEUs for a CSA annual meeting,
yet did not attend.
4. All of the above.
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Principle X
Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in
situations supporting health information
practice.
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Principle XI
Respect the inherent dignity and worth of
every person.
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Ethics Tools
• Code of Ethics site
• Standards for
Ethical Coding
• Standards for CDIP
• Self-Assessment
• Case Studies
• Violations
Ethics Resources:
http://www.ahima.org/about/ethicsresources.aspx
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AHIMA Standards of
Ethical Coding
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Last Approved 2008 by House of Delegates
Under revision currently
Based on AHIMA's Code of Ethics
Principles reflect expectations of professional
conduct for coding professionals
http://bok.ahima.org/doc?oid=106344#.VuAo
EE3fPxY
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Ethical Standards for Clinical
Documentation Improvement
Professionals (CDIP)
• Updated October 2015
• Based on AHIMA's Code of Ethics and AHIMA’s
Standards for Ethical Coding
• These standards reflect expectations of professional
conduct for coding professionals involved in clinical
documentation improvement
http://bok.ahima.org/doc?oid=101609#.VqjMt03fP4g
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Ethics Self Assessment
• Developed to help AHIMA members and
certificants identify strengths as well as
areas needing strengthening
• Intended for personal use only
AHIMA Ethics Self Assessment
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Self Assessment Case
Studies
• Ten case studies
developed to
complement the
assessment
• Both resources
will be useful and
inspiring in your
professional
development
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Code of Ethics Violations
http://www.ahima.org/about/aboutahima?tabid=ethics
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Case Study
A new HIM director recently relocated from another state.
Immediately upon her employment, her staff begins to note
irregular behavior. It seems that the new director is carrying
out activities that are not consistent with the organization’s
culture and the AHIMA Code of Ethics, and which possibly
may be illegal. The activities include reimbursing herself
out of petty cash for questionable expenditures, hiring
individuals who are friends or relatives, submitting expense
vouchers for attendance at meetings where no one recalls
her in attendance, and optimizing codes for improved
reimbursement. Is there an ethical violation, dilemma, or
concern?
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Core Ethical Questions
• What was the intent of the AHIMA member’s
actions that resulted in an ethics violation being
brought forward?
• What is the potential harm to the organization or
AHIMA as a result of the act?
• What is the status of the AHIMA member’s
training, education, and awareness of the
AHIMA Code of Ethics?
• Which AHIMA Ethical Principle(s) has been
violated?
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Case Study
A treasurer for a Component State Association
(CSA) obtained a debit card on behalf of the
CSA. The reason was to allow the CSA to
have petty cash and cover costs associated
with the CSA’s annual meeting. This person
began using the debit card to pay for personal
items such as parking, lunch, and groceries.
The president noticed these charges and asked
the treasurer about them. Is there an ethical
violation, dilemma, or concern?
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Core Ethical Questions
• What was the intent of the AHIMA member’s
actions that resulted in an ethics violation being
brought forward?
• What is the potential harm to the organization or
AHIMA as a result of the act?
• What is the status of the AHIMA member’s
training, education, and awareness of the
AHIMA Code of Ethics?
• Which AHIMA Ethical Principle(s) has been
violated?
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Questions
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