Integrated Care: Ethics for Psychologists in the Hospital Setting
I was privileged to present with Division 38 on Ethics in Hospital Settings at the 2016 APA Convention with colleagues Dr. Amy Sullivan and Dr. Marilyn Stern. I hope it was among the many programs I attended that were relevant and helpful to practitioners. Here is a highlight of some of the issues discussed, and look for more in the next edition of the Cambridge Handbook of Applied Psychological Ethics (book chapter in press).
Top 15 Recommendations for Best Ethics Practices in Integrated Care Settings
Obtain both verbal and written informed consent
Clarify with whom the information will be shared
Clarify the purpose of the referral, and what types of recommendations may be made
Clarify the information that will be included in the Electronic Health Record
Keep information included in the EHR factual, behavioral, and relevant
Maintain an EHR with both accessible mental health and medical notes to enhance patient care
Encourage other healthcare providers to respect the sensitivity of psychological information
Use an audit system as part of EHR to avoid unnecessary viewing of patient records
Limit discussion in multidisciplinary team meetings to relevant details
Consider issues such as cultural competence and healthcare literacy
Reassess informed consent regularly, making it an ongoing conversation
Clarify the role of supervisees and the level of involvement of supervisors
Clarify the roles of third parties such as family members, interpreters, or other supports
Work with multidisciplinary teams to provide the psychological perspective and balance maleficence versus beneficence.
Consult with colleagues, relevant ethical guidelines, state rules and regulations, state boards of psychology, state psychological associations, the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology, bioethics teams, and legal counsel regarding ethical concerns.
