Ethics and Professionalism

Summary

Serving as our most comprehensive ethics program, this course is grounded in the premise that everyone has the potential to commit a boundary or ethics violation. In this course, participants examine how and why their professional practices, responses to stress, and personal or situational factors put them at risk for exercising poor judgment or rationalizing improper behavior.

Participants arrive at the seminar primed by the pre-course readings, assignments, and self-assessment exercises—springboards for the process of introspection and self-critique. Participants complete the course by producing a Personalized Protection Plan designed to avoid future wrongdoing, safeguard patients and colleagues, and honor the reputation of their profession.

*California physicians: This course meets the Title 16, California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 1358.1 requirements. 

Format

1. ME-22
   • 8 hours of pre-course assignments
   • Two day course
   • Post-course follow-up material will be sent via email at six and twelve month intervals.
2. ME-22 Extended
   • 8 hours of pre-course assignments
   • Two day course
   • 12 hour post-course faculty-led group conference calls (MAS). One hour weekly for 12 weeks.
   • Post-course follow-up material will be sent via email at six and twelve month intervals.

Professions this course is suitable for

Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, physician assistants, nurses, mental health providers, EMT's, physical therapists, students, and a wide variety of other clinicians. This course can also be adapted to be applicable for attorneys.

Causes for referral

• Bending or breaking laws or rules
  • Noncompliance with orders/deadlines
• Driving under the influence (DUI/DWI)
• Financial improprieties
  • Fraud
  • Inappropriate billing
  • Over diagnosing, over-treating
  • Waiving copays
• HIPAA or confidentiality violations
• Misrepresentation
  • Cheating
  • Falsification
  • Inaccurate or inappropriate advertising
  • Lying or omission of information
• Practicing on an expired license

Learning objectives

• Comply with standards of practice and codes of ethics
• Improve clinical decision making by minimizing negative influencers
• Adhere to professional ethics with resultant improvements in professional-patient interaction, which can improve clinical outcomes
• Reduce their potential transgressions through the development of systems that can be implemented into clinical practice
• Become aware of the early warning signs indicative of ethical dilemmas and boundary problems
• Create an ethics-based Formula© and implement a tiered Personalized Protection Plan to maintain ethical integrity

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine and Professional Boundaries, Inc. The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine designates these live activities each for a maximum of 34 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in activity.