02-371 C.M.R. ch. 30, § 1 - Code of Ethics

The board adopts the following code of ethics for all licensees of the board:

1. A licensee shall hold paramount the welfare of persons for whom care is provided by:

A. Striving to provide to all those entrusted to their care the highest quality of appropriate services possible in light of resources or other constraints.

B. Operating the facility consistent with laws, regulations, and standards of practice recognized in the field of health care administration.

C. Protecting the confidentiality of information regarding individual recipients of care, consistent with law and professional standards.

D. Performing administrative duties with honesty, integrity, respect, fairness and good faith.

E. Taking appropriate steps to avoid discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, past, present or future status in the U.S. uniformed services, genetics or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

F. Not disclosing professional or personal information regarding recipients of service to unauthorized personnel unless required by law or to protect the public welfare.

2. A licensee shall maintain high standards of professional competence by:

A. Possessing and maintaining the competencies necessary to effectively perform their responsibilities.

B. Practicing administration in accordance with accepted standards in the long-term care and assisted living profession and, when appropriate, seeking counsel from qualified others.

C. Actively striving to enhance knowledge of and expertise in long-term care administration through continuing education and professional development.

D. Not misrepresenting qualifications, education, experience, or affiliations.

E. Not providing services other than those for which they are prepared and qualified to perform.

F. Not conducting themselves in a manner detrimental to the best interest of the profession.

3. A licensee shall strive, in all matters relating to their professional functions, to maintain a professional posture that places paramount the interests of the facility and its residents by:

A. Avoiding partisanship and providing a forum for the fair resolution of any disputes which may arise in service delivery or facility management.

B. Disclosing to the governing body of the facility or state authority as may be appropriate, any actual or potential circumstance that might reasonably be thought to create a conflict of interest or have a substantial adverse impact on the facility or its residents.

C. Not participating in activities that reasonably may be thought to create a conflict of interest or have the potential to have a substantial adverse impact on the facility.

4. A licensee shall honor their responsibilities to the public, to the profession, and in relationships with colleagues and members of related professions by:

A. Fostering increased knowledge within the profession of health care administration and supporting research efforts toward this end.

B. Participating with others in the community to plan for and provide a full range of health care services.

C. Sharing areas of expertise with colleagues, students, and the general public to increase awareness and promote understanding of health care in general and the profession in particular.

Notes

02-371 C.M.R. ch. 30, § 1