ISPOR Code of Ethics for Researchers Background Article—Report of the ISPOR Task Force on Code of Ethics for Researchers

In 2001, ISPOR convened a Task Force on Code of Ethics for Researchers (The Task Force). This Task Force was to build on the previous work of ISPOR Health Science Policy Task Forces and develop a code of ethics that would be applicable to all ISPOR members and to ISPOR itself. The Task Force developed a code of ethics that was subsequently adopted by the ISPOR Board of Directors. The Code of Ethics is appended to this article and can be found on ISPOR's Web page at http://www.ispor.org/workpaper/code_ethic.htm. This article provides supportive information and justification for the ISPOR Code of Ethics for Researchers and includes a discussion of the stakeholders as well as ethical considerations for the researcher on research practices, research sponsorship, research publication and dissemination, and relationships with others. It also includes a discussion of the ethical considerations for the Society.     

Resolving ethical conflicts in a managed health care environment.

The managed health care environment is replete with situations that create ethical conflicts for the professional social worker. This article examines two such conflicts--competing fiduciary relationships and justice versus injustice--as they relate to social work practice and the 1996 revised NASW Code of Ethics. Mechanisms to reduce these ethical conflicts are presented. The obligation for social workers to participate in social action as a method of reducing injustices found in managed care environments is examined through the principle of distributive justice, egalitarianism, and the NASW Code of Ethics.     

Working together,staying focused on our goals

When I was elected president of ASHRM for 2009, I accepted the honor as an opportunity to help ASHRM reach new heights. My goal is to support the objectives and goals consistent with the mission, values, and strategic direction of this organization and to do that with integrity through service, teamwork, and innovation. This is a challenging year for all of us individually, which by extension makes it a challenge for ASHRM. Staying focused on my goal will be difficult, but my intention is to do just that.     

Ethics Opinion: Weight Loss Products and Medications

An Ethics Opinion reflects the interpretation or application of the American Dietetic Association (ADA)/Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics by the Ethics Committee in response to a specific ethics issue facing dietetics professionals in practice. An ethics opinion is an educational guide for practitioner conduct; it is meant to be a comprehensive review of the issue. The Ethics Committee initiated the following opinion. The situations described are hypothetical.     

Our patients' safety through our new vision,mission, and strategic plan

This being my first president's column, I would be remiss if I did not provide a heartfelt thanks to the ASHRM membership, who elected me to serve as your 2013 ASHRM President. Thank you all for allowing me to continue to give back to our fine and noble healthcare risk management profession!.     

“Risk management” is a verb

To optimally demonstrate the value of risk management, our actions must show the benefits. The American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) board needs to provide support through tools and resources. ASHRM members must show through their actions the value of risk management. And ASHRM members need to show the organization where actions and activities should be focused in the future. Actions show the value of enterprise risk management.     

Our ASHRM journey continues: ERM for our patients' safety

First and foremost, as your 2013 ASHRM president, I'd like to thank you for all of the significant accomplishments you've helped ASHRM attain this year. And I'll be forever grateful for your support and making my personal and professional dream come true—to serve as your president. Advocating on behalf of all healthcare risk managers and furthering the quest of Getting to Zero for our patients' safety through Enterprise Risk Management, or ERM, has been an honor, because everyone is a risk manager!     

Ethics Update. Revisions strengthen AHIMA's code of ethics

A new update to AHIMA's Code of Ethics addresses recent changes in technology, healthcare, and association management-and the accompanying complexity of competing interests and obligations they can bring.     

Professional collaboration to achieve FASHRM and DFASHRM recognition

Members of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) are undeniably talented. They also share a spirit of volunteerism. Two ASHRM committees are fostering further member collaboration to provide individual growth, enhance educational offerings for members, and strengthen the organization's journal. Though 26% of ASHRM members have attained the CPHRM credential, only 2.5% of ASHRM members have attained a fellow designation. Primary barriers to attaining a fellow designation are the requirements for continuing education and contributions to the risk management field. The organization's Journal Editorial Review Board, in concert with its Annual Conference & Exhibition Committee, encourages members to explore opportunities to write for the Journal, speak at the annual conference, and attain one of the organization's professional designations. In addition, the Barton Certificate Program in Healthcare Risk Management promotes professional development with sessions taught on this topic for new and experienced risk managers.     

A dream come true: Being President of ASHRM

During our 33rd Annual Conference of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, I had the absolute honor and privilege to thank our 2013 ASHRM board and staff along with the ASHRM membership. On behalf of the membership I extended heartfelt thanks for a job well done to our retiring board members, friends, and colleagues: Faye Shepherd, Ellen Grady‐Venditti, Michael Midgley, and Immediate Past President Mary Anne Hilliard. Together, we welcomed 2014 ASHRM board members and witnessed the oath of office to Hala Helm, David Sine, and Sherrill Peters, along with President‐Elect Ellen Grady‐Venditti and our 2014 President Jacque Mitchell.     

Health educators' perceptions of ethics in professional preparation and practice

This commentary reflects health educators' views concerning perceptions of the need for increased awareness of the Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession, improvement in professionals' ability to engage in ethical reflection, and the need for incorporation of ethical considerations into health education practice.     

Consensus Statements on Occupational Therapy Ethics Related to Driving

As part of an expert panel convened to examine evidence and practice related to diverse aspects of driving evaluation and rehabilitation, consensus statements were developed on ethics. This paper provides context for the ethical obligation of practitioners to assess and make recommendations about the ability of clients to safely perform the activity of driving. It highlights key articles from the literature as well as principles from the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010). The statements support the importance of identifying impairments affecting driving, which could result in harm to the client as well as to the public. The ethical and professional obligation of practitioners to evaluate, make recommendations, and possibly report and/or refer to a driver rehabilitation specialist for further services is reinforced.     

On the Development of a Model of Supervision for Licensed Social Work Practitioners

This paper presents a rationale for supervision of social work practitioners after licensure based on the mandates of the NASW Code of Ethics, the "nature of the work," the need to maintain boundaries in practice, and the translation of personal troubles into public issues. A model of supervision is proposed that builds on supervison as an interactive and interdependent process but does not assume clinical superiority of the supervisor. Group supervision is proposed as the primary structure because it provides a forum for the identification and development of strategies of client/client system intervention to mitigate against the individuation of personal prolems and promote their exploration as systemic public issues.     

Leading the way to professional success

One of the goals contained in the ASHRM Strategic Plan for 2007–2009 is to develop the risk management professional in a changing healthcare environment. The goal is tremendously important to all of us.     

ASHRM Board and ERM, “Walking the Walk”

The ASHRM 2015 Board of Directors applied ERM to our Strategic Plan to identify any internal or external threats to the plan by asking a simple question: What could go wrong?     

The journey and Journal get better every year

As I enter into my presidency, I have been reflecting on the past and when I first learned of ASHRM and everything the society offered. I think of all the past presidents and how much I admired their knowledge and dedication to the profession of healthcare risk management.     

Ethical considerations in prenatal sex selection

Developments in assisted reproductive technologies have made it possible for couples to select the sex of a child prenatally. This article used the NASW Code of Ethics and information from the Ethics Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine to consider ethical dilemmas related to social justice (for example, reinforcement of gender bias, the potential for gender discrimination and oppression, a move toward eugenics, restricted access based on social or economic status, and the discarding of human embryos), the importance of human relationships (for example, threats to the well-being of sex-selected children, parent-child relationships, and couple relationships), and self-determination and the dignity and worth of the individual (for example, the right of individuals or couples to choice and personal desires). Implications are discussed for social work practice, policy articulation and advocacy, research, and education.     

Keep that magic going in 2015!

Greetings and welcome to ASHRM's 35th anniversary year! As I begin my term as president, I acknowledge and appreciate the richness and depth of our organization's history and value the wisdom of our many members and volunteers who have been actively involved in ASHRM from the beginning, as well as those of us who haven't been around that long!     

Analysis of ASHRM membership survey on healthcare captives

This article explores the emergence of captives as a vehicle for managing healthcare risks. In 2006, the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) surveyed a segment of its membership with experience and interest in alternative risk financing about the role of healthcare captives. This article summarizes the findings and generally assesses the responses for opportunities to educate risk managers more fully on the role captives can play in managing risks.     

Engaging ‘levers’ to guage success

In 2007, as part of its annual strategic planning process, the ASHRM board was fortunate to have the assistance of Rick Foster, an internationally known management consultant and author. Those of you who have participated in the AHA's Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship program have had the opportunity to work with Rick as he showed you what your Myers Briggs personality assessment results really mean, and how to understand different behavioral tendencies predicted by those assessments.