Human Services and Healthcare: Acting Professionally

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Codes of ethics
Provision of services in ethical context
Legal provisions on provision of quality services
Monitoring and regulation of healthcare and human services professionals
Conclusion
References

Introduction

According to the American college dictionary, an occupation that requires some acquaintance of a particular unit of leaning or science may define what a profession is while professionalism can be labeled as the standing, performance or methods of a profession as distinguished from an amateur. A professional on the other hand has different meanings, all of which can fit in this context. They include people who are paid for what they do and people who posses special skills that they have trained to do. Elsewhere, the word professional is used to describe people with degrees and who work in high-end careers and enjoy comfortable remuneration; people with exceptional competence in particular fields and their fields can be considered challenging.

The definition of professionalism can however be specific if the profession concerned is taken into account. According to Bosworth, Richard & Michael, human services and healthcare and health information management are some of the fields where professionalism is emphasized (2009, p 257). Sauber & Vetter (1983, p 17) define human services as including service delivery systems for mental health, social welfare, health, education and criminal justice.

They further add that there are some areas that overlap and are classified as human services. They include family planning, recreation, parole, advocacy and probation. Health information management is defined as a process of maintaining healthcare records, through the established means in all stakeholders departments. They include doctor’s clinics, insurance companies and government hospitals. Management is done through the traditional means like physical filing and electronic means by using health information technology.

Managing information related to health also requires exceptional professionalism. Healthcare systems rely heavily and are overly sensitive to healthcare records (Kuehn, 1997, p 1). According to Kuenh, high professionalism is needed in handling medical records because they touch on every section of healthcare (1997, p 60). Lack of professionalism therefore in such a critical department may lead to a negative multiple effects on the provision of healthcare services.

For one to act professionally he/she is required to be knowledgeable, remain aware and informed of the role of ethics in professional practice and at least perform rightfully in his/her work. (Bosworth, Richard & Michael, 2009, p 258), further say that clients who seek healthcare and human services are the most ignorant in terms of self help and, the most vulnerable. Therefore, people who provide these services work within mechanisms that set by both society and authorities to guard the vulnerable, unknowing, and uninformed citizens. Health and human service delivery professionalism therefore is the practicing within the laid down ethics and procedures without showing biasness and not taking advantage of client’s situations.

Codes of ethics

Different professions have their elements that define them. Professions have philosophies, bodies of knowledge, admission requirements, leaders and/ or philosophers and guidelines that define behavior (Kaluzny & McLaughlin, 2006, p 108).

Guidelines defining behavior are especially important as they seek to regulate conduct of professionals in the course of their work and their relationship with clients. Principles take in codes, dogmas, assertions, swearwords, belief statements and commitments. Like every professional who has codes that guide his/her behavior, so do healthcare and human services professionals. According to (Bosworth, Richard & Michael, 2009, p 258), the code of ethics is known, practices and endorsed by members of a profession. They further say that the codes of ethics are not rules, rather philosophies that guide professionals to make the best decisions while practicing. (Dickson, 2004, p 81) defines ethics as philosophical discipline that govern conduct and moral decision making. (Van Hoose & Kottler, 1985, p 3), as quoted in (Dickson, 2004, p 81) says that ethics are normative and they deal with how principles ought to govern human conduct rather than the actual governing of it.

The codes of conduct regulate professionals in both personal and professional levels. They establish a broad base of rules for a profession and its members (Dickson, 2004, p, 81). Dickson further says that individual moral codes govern individual decisions in both professional and private life while professional codes govern decision making for the profession as a whole. The professionalism that is brought about by the above ethics ensures quality provision of services within a safe, ethical and legal context.

Provision of services in ethical context

The guidelines offering codes of conduct to Health information management professionals can hardly guard against misconduct by these professionals all the time (Burger, 2007, p 212). Health information management professionals may be unintentionally biased due to hidden beliefs and attitudes that can prove to be very unfruitful in helping relationship (McClam & Woodside, 2008, p 259). What a professional does or does not do in all situations is to a large extent determined by the professional himself or herself. Van Hoose and Kottler as quoted in (Dickson, 2004 p, 81), identify many functions of codes that ensure that quality care is provided within ethical standards.

Provision of guidance to the professionals, legitimizing the profession in the eyes of the public, preemption of government interference and imposition of external standards and to establish rules of conduct with which the conduct of the professionals can be compared with to protect or discipline the professional are some of the functions that codes play to ensure clients get services meeting the quality standards they are supposed to have (Atwal & Jones, 2009, p 274).

Codes ensure quality delivery of services by ensuring that minimum standards of competency are adhered to while defining individual responsibilities and clarifying any arising issues of concern. Though codes of conduct by the professional organizations are not legally binding, its not uncommon for the organizations to sanction errant members. Admonishment, expulsion from the organization or suspension from practice are the commonest punitive measures meted on misbehaving members. In cases where a professional misbehaves on the presumption that the organization has limited powers, legal course takes place.

Legal provisions on provision of quality services

Different legal statutes have been put in place to ensure the quality of professional service that people receive is high. The laws protect both the Health information management professionals and clients. They touch on different areas like privacy, right to be treated, and right of the professional to decline offering services if he/she feels there is sufficient reasons. Codes regulating privacy are especially sensitive and mainly touch on information keeping.

Health information management professionals managing patient records need to highly professional for them to maintain the confidence required. Other legal provisions also supersede that of professional bodies like APA. For instance authorities can take action by withdrawing a license of a professional or professional body that may be in contravention of the existing law. License withdrawal for instance may be applied on professionals whose negligence causes death or more suffering to the patient.

When the code of conduct and laws are implemented as described above, provision of quality care and service is realized. Safety can only be realized if professionals adhere to the codes and laws that have been put in place.

Monitoring and regulation of healthcare and human services professionals

Bosworth, Richard & Michael (2009, p 258) say that there are four mechanisms through which human services are regulated. They include registration, licensure, accreditation and certification.

Licensure

This is the giving of a warrant to a Health information management professional which means effectively giving him/her the consent to practice. The main aim is to regulate activities or skills that the government feels threatens people or specialized skills that cannot be given out freely. Activities that sometimes require licensing may include driving, piloting or playing sports.

Normally, state boards of regulation are responsible for issues individuals or organizations with licenses to for plying their trade or practicing a profession. Acquiring a license enables professionals to practice on many fronts. They can do private practice, qualify for third party funding for example from an insurance company or they can choose to function autonomously (Bosworth, Richard & Michael, 2009, p 258).

The importance of licensure in maintaining high standards in human service delivery is highlighted by the kind of penalties people pay for practicing without license. The board that issues licenses does so after its convinced that the professional is fully qualifies and therefore meets all the requirements for acquiring a license. One of the penalties that boards can impose of professionals who do not ply their trade within the professional and ethical boundaries is revocation of license which may possible end one’s career.

Accreditation

In other words, this is the guarantee of skill and staging of integrity and authority. It involves conferring third party agents of official standards that the organizations themselves have obtained from accreditation bodies. Accreditation may be described in layman terms as recognition to have fulfilled certain condition as may be dictated by an overseeing body. Different professional bodies and boards have their own standards that they attach to institutions and the programs they offer. Accreditation therefore is earned when an agency, organization or institution is officially recognized by a professional body to have met and satisfied the standards of that particular body. For instance an agency that meets the standards of APA will get the recognition from the body as result will be APA accredited.

According to Bosworth, Richard & Michael (2009, p 258) accreditation takes place in two levels. There is the accreditation of service agencies, organizations and institutions offering professional human health services. On the other hand there is accreditation of professional preparation programs. The trust that the public may be having in such professional bodies as APA makes their accreditation important. It will in effect increase the faith people have in such professional services. Agencies and institutions therefore will strive to maintain high standards in order to qualify for accreditation.

Registration

This is a state or national level recognition that a professional has successfully completed the mandatory time he /she is supposed to spend in studies and/or doing experience work. The state in effect will have recognized the professional as having met the necessary requirements as specified by the law to practice in that particular territory. For instance a registered doctor will bear the initials R.D after his/her name meaning he /she is a registered doctor. Its important to note that even certified and/ or licensed professionals too need to be registered. Registration can be denied in case the applicants have not met the set standard.

Certification

This is the authentication given mostly by an external body of the acquisition of certain characteristics or qualifications of by either an object, individual or even a company. Professional certification is the most common where people are certified by some form of authority that they can competently perform given specific tasks.

Certification is awarded when a professional has net the minimum requirements for competency (Bosworth, Richard & Michael, 2009, p 258). Bosworth, Richard & Michael, , p 258 further reinforce the idea that competency is evidenced by experience, formal education, supervisory examination and the passing of examinations recognized by state or national authorities. Any professional who does not meet the minimum set requirements is therefore not certified hence he/she cannot qualify for any of the above regulatory mechanisms.

Conclusion

Acting professionally is a universal topic that cannot be exhausted in a few pages. Health information management professional behaving within the prescribed rules and regulations is the least they can do to uphold their reputation and ensure high quality service delivery. Acting professional encompasses many aspects. Looks, actions, education and work participation is important in determining professionalism. Behavior at one’s work place and treatment of colleague too do define professionalism. In this case however, emphasis is given to respect accorded to work ethics and laid down laws, another aspect that contributes a lot to professionalism.

Respects to ethics leads to accountability that every Health information management professional must have. According to Sauber & Vetter, (1983, p 408), professional accountability for service delivery has become a responsibility in human services.

Besides its individual side, being professional can also be looked at from an organizational point of view. Organizations too need to follow professional bodies’ ethics and laws of the country so that they can have the moral authority to regulate professional behavior among its members. This is especially by professional people leading these organizations. Besides, the official ways that have been put in place to ensure professionalism in Health information management service delivery, individual efforts also do play a role. Many professionals can choose to ignore the rules and codes but due to the high moral standards that they have, professionalism is maintained. Its therefore important to note the importance of individual efforts and encourage those that practice it.

References

Atwal A & Jones M. (2009). Preparing for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Bosworth J.J. Emener G.W, & Richard A.M (2009). A guidebook to human service professions: helping college students explore Opportunities in the Human Services Field. Springfield: Charles Thomas Publisher.

Burger W. (2007). Human Services in Contemporary America. New York: Cengage Learning.

Dickson T.D. (2004). Law in the Health and Human Services. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Kaluzny D.A & McLaughlin P.C. (2006). Continuous quality improvement in health care. London: Jones Bartlette Learning.

Kuehn L. (1997). Health Information Management: Medical Record Processes in Group Practice. New York: Medical Group Management Association.

McClam T & Woodside M. (2008). An Introduction to Human Services. London: Cengage Learning.

Sauber R & Vetter J.H. (1983). The human services delivery system: mental health, criminal justice, social welfare, education, health services. New York: Columbia University Press.

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