Improving Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Leadership

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this articles discussion is to describe the application of ethical decision-making and the three primary relationships within health care leadership. Healthcare change occurs rapidly and increases tension and mistrust between payers, providers, and patients. Application of ethical standards to decision-making and change decreases healthcare cost and improves trust in change processes. Approach: Health care challenges occur among three primary relationships. These relationships include the patient and provider, patient and payer, and provider and payer. A plethora of leadership models exist with regard to leading change; however, these models do not consider that leaders are not always concerned with the ethical decision-making process. Evaluation of the ethical principles, healthcare relationships, and recent healthcare changes found in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act guide the articles discussion. Findings: Application of ethical principles to transformational leadership improves healthcare relationships and alleviates stress and tension produced by change. Healthcare leaders have an expectation to provide ethical considerations during change management and the decision-making process which influences the various relationships found in healthcare. Value: Healthcare leaders are in the unique position to improve healthcare using ethical principles. Because health care reform requires ethical decision-making from leaders, the application of ethical principles to the various relationships health care leaders’ influence creates fundamental and successful change in health care.