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Hotline provides confidential reporting of unsafe practice

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, August 15, 2006

In the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® Application Manual, 2005 edition, Force of Magnetism 6: Quality of care, source of evidence #9 requires program applicants to "provide evidence that nurses have access to avenues for confidential and anonymous reporting of unsafe practice or unsafe environmental factors without recrimination." To promote reporting of unsafe practice and exemplify this source of evidence, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center of Hartford, CT, has created a confidential, anonymous hotline geared toward reporting violations of the Corporate Compliance Plan and Code of Conduct, including violations of laws, regulations, and federal healthcare program requirements.

Kathy Noel, patient care services administration, project manager at Saint Francis, says the disclosure program and the availability of the hotline is promoted through brochures, wallet cards, posters, e-mails, compliance newsletters, on the intranet, and through various other training and department meetings.

"Our policy applies to all Saint Francis organizations, and to all Saint Francis employees, directors, officers, vendors, contractors, and other persons doing business on behalf of Saint Francis," says Noel. The corporate compliance officer maintains a disclosure log, which includes a record and summary of each disclosure received, the status of Saint Francis' internal review of the allegations, and any corrective action taken in response to the internal review.

While the hotline call volume at Saint Francis is low, Noel says most concerns are reported directly to the compliance officer or to the appropriate vice president who then reports to the compliance officer.

Source: Kathy Noel

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