Ethical Responsibilities

Various federal and state agencies regulate healthcare to protect vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those who are underinsured or socially disadvantaged. 

• CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services): Provides funding for healthcare. Medicare is for those over 65 or with specific disabilities, while Medicaid provides funding for individuals with low incomes.

• CDC (Centers for Disease Control): Offers guidance for healthcare facilities regarding infection and disease control.

• FDA (Food and Drug Administration): Ensures the safety of medications, food, medical devices, and products that emit radiation.

• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): Sets and enforces standards to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees.

• DHS (Department of Health Services): A state-level agency that provides services like disability determination, abuse prevention, and the regulation of state nursing homes

• HIPAA (1996): Established national standards to protect sensitive patient health information (PHI) from being disclosed without consent. Nursing assistants must legally keep all client information, including care plans and shift reports, confidential.

• OBRA (1987): Set new standards for nursing home care, including a requirement for at least 75 hours of training and a competency evaluation for nurse aides. It emphasizes patient-centered care, where the individual's specific health needs and desired outcomes drive all healthcare decisions.

• Older Americans Act (OAA): Created the Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman program. These programs investigate and resolve complaints made by residents in facilities like nursing homes and assisted living communities to protect their health, safety, and rights.

• Using personal cell phones in patient care areas.

• Failing to respond to call lights promptly.

• Using agency computers for personal tasks or ignoring assigned phones.

• Avoiding clients based on their ethnicity, beliefs, or individual characteristics.

• Accepting gifts or gratuities from clients or their families.

• Sharing personal information about a client with anyone not providing direct care.

• Stealing from clients or the healthcare facility