Educational Interventions Offer an Effective Approach to Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas January 9, 2015 General IMQ Professionalism Program , Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) 0 Physicians regularly grapple with situations that can challenge their ability to maintain an ethical healthcare practice. While many times the choices are clear, some situations require knowledge and skills to avoid problems that may lead to sanctions on a medical license or even loss of practice. Ethical dilemmas are not limited to financial matters, but can arise in communications with and supervision of employees, methods used in advertising and promotion, or in decisions about patient care. Today, medical group and medical staff leaders and attorneys are taking a proactive stance by referring physicians to a medical ethics program in the belief that an educational intervention can resolve problems before they escalate. This Professionalism Program, offered by the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), is approved by the Medical Board of California (MBC) and includes participation in a two day course plus written updates at six- and twelve-months following the course. Physicians who are not subject to an MBC sanction participate in the two-day course without follow-up requirements. The course enables physicians to apply a decision model based on ethical principles and California law to their practice of medicine. The content covers the foundations of the physician as a professional, the legal and ethical dimensions of actions that result in probation, license suspension, or revocation or restriction of privileges. Physicians also are given a variety of resources to access when faced with an ethical dilemma. The weekend course is offered four times a year and limited to a small number of attendees. There are openings for the February 7 and 8 course. Physicians also may enroll in May, August and November courses. For questions or more information, please contact Leslie Anne Iacopi at (415) 882-5167 or liacopi@imq.org. Comments are closed.
