The Texas Children’s Code of Ethical Behavior sets forth the guidelines that govern our interactions among workforce members, patients, and vendors, and sets expectations for our behavior, in order to ensure we achieve our purpose in full compliance with our values and the law.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does Texas Children’s have a Code of Ethical Behavior?
- Ethics are an essential and integral part of any successful company, especially in health care. Since we work in a complex and highly regulated industry, it is essential that we have a uniform code that guides workforce members on carrying out the Texas Children’s mission ethically and with integrity, and protects Texas Children’s, its employees, and its patients.
2. What is the Texas Children’s Code of Ethical Behavior?
The general principles that guide our behavior at work. These include:
- Following the law: Not sure about whether something is legal? Contact the Compliance and Privacy Office at 832-824-2085 or at compliance@texaschildrens.org and ask!
- Ethical business practices: Texas Children’s values openness, honesty, and expects its workforce to adhere to the highest standards of ethical business practices.
- Avoiding conflicts of interest: Taking part in an activity that may influence or appear to influence your decision making.
- Following Texas Children’s policies and procedures: All Texas Children’s policies and procedures are available on PolicyTech, accessible here: https://texaschildrens.policytech.com/
- Reporting inappropriate or unethical conduct or activity: Texas Children’s provides a confidential and anonymous way to report compliance or ethical concerns, for which regular channels may be uncomfortable or otherwise inappropriate. To make an anonymous report, workforce members can either: 1) call the Texas Children’s Confidential Hotline (1-866-478-9070) to report their concerns, or 2) make a report online at http://mycompliancereport.com (enter password TEX).
- Maintaining confidentiality: Every Texas Children’s workforce member has a duty to safeguard the health information of our patients and members, and shall not access/use/disclose any patient/member protected health information except for the purposes of payment, treatment, or operations. No one may access a patient’s or member’s protected health information unless it relates to their work-duties at Texas Children’s.
- Keeping accurate and complete records: It is essential that all documentation and records are accurate. When a mistake is made, Texas Children’s expects that error to be reported so it can be corrected.
- Doing what is right, not what it easy: Sometimes doing nothing, or taking the wrong action, is easier than doing the right thing. All Texas Children’s workforce members are expected to take action and report unethical behavior, even if it is difficult.
3. To whom does the Code of Ethical Behavior apply?
- The Code of Ethical Behavior applies to all Texas Children’s entities, and all Texas Children’s workforce members individually, including employees, medical staff, volunteers, contractors, consultants, temporary employees, trainees, or other persons whose performance of work is under the direction or supervision or on behalf of Texas Children’s, whether or not they are paid by Texas Children’s.
Remember, if you see something that you believe to be unethical or illegal, you should raise your concerns or ask questions. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring Texas Children’s continues its high standard of ethical practices in order to best serve our patients.