Values Based Decision-Making (VBDM)

James J. McCartney, OSA, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Philosophy

Villanova University

Ethics Consultant, Catholic Health East

MAKING ETHICAL, VALUES-BASED DECISIONS IN

TODAY’S HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT

BUILT TO LAST: SUCCESSFUL HABITS OF VISIONARY

COMPANIES

James C. Collins

&

Jerry I. Porras

VISIONARY COMPANIES

PRESERVED: – Core values– Core purpose

CHANGED:– Culture and Operating Practices– Specific Goals and Strategies– Anything except the core values and purpose

Ethics can be described as “what we ought to do in the light of who we say we are.” Any process needs to assist decision makers in recalling who we say we are, as well as to

clarify what it is we ought to do in this particular case.

ETHICS

Organizational Ethics

the intentional use of values to guide the decisions of a system

the intersection and integration of Christian ethics, business ethics, professional ethics, and clinical ethics within a Catholic health care organization

a process to address ethical issues associated with the business, financial, and management areas of health care organizations; as well as with professional, educational, and contractual relationships affecting the operation of the health care organization

Definitions:

Organizational Ethics Characteristics

proactive and not just reactive

organizationally integrated and not isolated

accountable according to measurable outcomes

oriented by institutional values

Catholic Health East and its affiliates are based upon a set of core values and a core

purpose that influence all that we do and are, including the decisions we make. These

decisions affect large numbers of people, have far-reaching implications, and, at times,

involve multiple and apparently conflicting values.

Operating Assumption

Ethics and values-based decision making will clarify how a particular decision will, or will not:

advance the mission of CHE and its affiliates

demonstrate our vision and values in action

realize our strategic goals, objectives and initiatives

USE OF VBDM WITHIN CHE

SMT: Possible acquisition of new hospitals Atlanta: Future of heart transplant program Camden: Future of Family Health Center Philadelphia: Future use of a facility Pittsburgh: Future use of a facility Springfield: Future use of a facility Human Resources: Nurses from Abroad West Hartford: Union Issues

VBDM ---Board Presentations

CHE Board St. Joseph’s (Atlanta) Board Pittsburgh Mercy Board Catholic Health System (Buffalo) Board Mercy (Miami) Board Mercy Community Health, (West

Hartford) Board St. James Mercy (Hornell, NY) Board