Ethics Committees in Rural Health Care Facilities

1. Ethics Committees in Rural Health Care Facilities • Ethics committees can serve as a useful resource to clinicians and administrators for addressing challenging ethics questions • The purpose of an ethics committee is to enhance the quality of care by providing a forum to discuss ethics questions with a multi-disciplinary group of professionals with knowledge and skills in health care ethics Training materials from Rural Health Care Ethics: A Manual for Trainers. WA Nelson and KE Schifferdecker, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH

2. The Basic Functions of Ethics Committees • Establish ethical health care practices throughout the facility • Educate staff regarding ethical health care practices • Clarify ethical health care practices when needed • Evaluate ethical health care practices

3. Benefits of an Effective Ethics Program • Enhanced patient satisfaction • Increased employee morale and loyalty • Improved public relations • Fewer wasteful/unwanted treatments

4. Benefits of an Effective Ethics Program(continued) • Less diverted staff time • Enhanced professionalism • Fewer law suits • Meet Joint Commission ethics standards