STAY TRUE TO OUR MISSION, VISION, VALUES AND PROMISE.
Your official guide to maintaining our high standards of conduct and ethics
A MESSAGE FROM ESMAEIL PORSA, MD
DEAR HARRIS HEALTH FAMILY,
As we strive to become a high-reliability organization where zero patient harm is not only a possibility but an expectation, we must also stand firm against any wrongdoing be it ethical, legal, moral, financial or otherwise. We are honored to serve some of the most vulnerable in our community. With this honor comes the trust and the duty that we conduct ourselves beyond reproach. I call on all of us to continue this journey with steadfast determination and tireless vigilance.
To help us achieve these goals, the Harris Health System Code of Conduct explains our expectations and our policies. It gives us the tools to confidentially report any ethical or legal violations that you know about, suspect or become aware of, without any fear of retaliation.
I encourage you to read and become familiar with our Code of Conduct. With your personal commitment, we are well on our way to becoming the premier public academic healthcare system in the nation.
Sincerely,
Esmaeil Porsa, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer
Harris Health System
A MESSAGE FROM ESMAEIL PORSA, MD
DEAR HARRIS HEALTH FAMILY,
As we strive to become a high-reliability organization where zero patient harm is not only a possibility but an expectation, we must also stand firm against any wrongdoing be it ethical, legal, moral, financial or otherwise. We are honored to serve some of the most vulnerable in our community. With this honor comes the trust and the duty that we conduct ourselves beyond reproach. I call on all of us to continue this journey with steadfast determination and tireless vigilance.
To help us achieve these goals, the Harris Health System Code of Conduct explains our expectations and our policies. It gives us the tools to confidentially report any ethical or legal violations that you know about, suspect or become aware of, without any fear of retaliation.
I encourage you to read and become familiar with our Code of Conduct. With your personal commitment, we are well on our way to becoming the premier public academic healthcare system in the nation.
Sincerely,
Esmaeil Porsa, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer
Harris Health System
Our Code of Conduct puts our Mission, Vision, Values and Promise into practice. It provides standards of conduct that must be followed by everyone who works at or with Harris Health: Our Board of Trustees, employees, members of our medical staff, trainees, contractors, volunteers and vendors. Our Code of Conduct aligns with and supports Harris Health’s strategic plan and pillars as well as Harris Health policies and procedures.
OUR MISSION
We are a community-focused academic healthcare system dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County through quality care delivery, coordination of care, and education.
OUR VISION
We will become the premier public academic healthcare system in the nation.
OUR VALUES
Harris Health values QUALITY
Quality and Patient Safety
United as One Harris Health System
Accountable and Just Culture
Leadership & Integrity
Innovation, Education, Research
Trust, Recognition, Respect
You: Patients, Employees, Medical Staff
OUR PROMISE
To provide high-quality healthcare by knowledgeable and highly trained staff;
To provide prompt, friendly and courteous service;
To be sensitive and responsive to our patients’ needs and concerns and the needs and concerns of their family members and friends; and
To provide a clean, comfortable and safe environment in all our facilities.
OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS
We will strive to accomplish the goals and objectives of each strategic pillar by aligning behavior and actions in furtherance of each pillar.
Our strategic pillars are:
Quality and Patient Safety
People
One Harris Health System
Population Health Management
Infrastructure Optimization
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
OUR MISSION
We are a community-focused academic healthcare system dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County through quality care delivery, coordination of care, and education.
OUR VISION
We will become the premier public academic healthcare system in the nation.
OUR VALUES
Harris Health values QUALITY
Quality and Patient Safety
United as One Harris Health System
Accountable and Just Culture
Leadership & Integrity
Innovation, Education, Research
Trust, Recognition, Respect
You: Patients, Employees, Medical Staff
OUR PROMISE
To provide high-quality healthcare by knowledgeable and highly trained staff;
To provide prompt, friendly, and courteous service;
To be sensitive and responsive to our patients’ needs and concerns and the needs and concerns of their family members and friends; and
To provide a clean, comfortable, and safe environment in all our facilities.
OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS
We will strive to accomplish the goals and objectives of each strategic pillar by aligning behavior and actions in furtherance of each pillar.
Our strategic pillars are:
Quality and Patient Safety
People
One Harris Health System
Population Health Management
Infrastructure Optimization
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
THE ROLE OF CORPORATE COMPLIANCE AT HARRIS HEALTH
The Office of Corporate Compliance is responsible for developing and fostering a culture of ethical conduct. The Office of Corporate Compliance is charged with the duty of providing education, training and guidance to workforce members and implementing a compliance program that prevents, detects and corrects accidental or intentional violations of federal and state laws or regulations and/or Harris Health policies and this Code of Conduct.
Carolynn Jones, Harris Health’s Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, provides executive-level direction for the compliance program and is responsible for incorporating the compliance program within Harris Health’s operations and programs through collaboration with executive leadership. The Chief Compliance and Risk Officer also has a direct line of communication with and independent responsibility to the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees’ Compliance and Audit Committee assists the Board of Trustees in its oversight responsibilities of the Office of Corporate Compliance’s efforts to cultivate an ethical and compliant culture and set the tone for a culture of compliance within Harris Health.
Below please find the contact information for the Chief Compliance and Risk Officer as well as the Deputy Compliance Officer:
Carolynn Jones, JD, CHC (She/Her/Hers)
EVP, Chief Compliance & Risk Officer
Harris Health System
Office: 346-426-0174
Email: Carolynn.Jones@harrishealth.org
Anthony B. Williams, MBA, CHC, CSSGB
VP Corporate Compliance/Deputy Compliance Officer
4800 Fournace Place | Bellaire, TX 77401
Office: 346-426-0109
Email: Anthony.Williams5@harrishealth.org
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT
Everyone who works at or with Harris Health has a responsibility to perform his or her job duties in compliance with the Code of Conduct. All potential violations of the Code of Conduct should be reported pursuant to the 4-Step Reporting Process.
Harris Health has adopted a just and accountable culture. This means that when a violation of the Code of Conduct is reported to the Office of Corporate Compliance, the violation is treated as an opportunity to understand the behavioral choice and/or system failures that led to the violation.
BE AN EXAMPLE
Promote the Code of Conduct in daily activities by complying with the Code of Conduct. Specifically, managers and supervisors should know, understand and follow the statutes, rules and regulations that govern your area of responsibility. Managers and supervisors should also report any and all potential violations of the Code of Conduct.
BE ACCESSIBLE
Managers and supervisors should have an open-door policy so that workforce members feel comfortable asking questions about the Code of Conduct or raising concerns regarding potential violations.
BE RESPONSIVE
Managers and supervisors should identify compliance risks and respond in a timely manner to address the identified risks. Further, managers and supervisors should give prompt answers to any questions or concerns regarding the Code of Conduct or refer questions to the Office of Corporate Compliance.
If you are ever unsure what decision to make, use the following quiz to determine whether you are making the right choice for Harris Health and our patients or whether you should seek additional guidance before you act.
If you answered “no” or are unsure of the answer to any of the above questions, you should contact your manager or supervisor, another trusted manager or Harris Health’s Office of Corporate Compliance before you proceed.
Reporting Compliance Issues
Harris Health has a just and accountable culture (“JAC”). JAC is how Harris Health reacts to and manages human errors, mistakes and violations of laws or regulations. JAC promotes a process where mistakes, errors and/or violations of laws or regulations do not result in automatic punishment, but rather result in a process to uncover the source of the error or violation. Errors that are not deliberate or malicious may result in coaching, counseling and education around the error and/or violation, ultimately decreasing the likelihood of a repeated error or violation.
Both Harris Health’s Code of Conduct and JAC require you to report known or suspected violations of the Code of Conduct. If you have a question or concern about an activity violating the Code of Conduct by being unethical, illegal or wrong, use the following 4-Step Reporting Process to report your concerns.
Even though Harris Health has a strict Non-Retaliation Policy (discussed below), if you would like to report violations of the Code of Conduct confidentially, Harris Health will keep your identity confidential to the extent possible.
 |
Talk to your supervisor. He or she is most familiar with the laws, regulations and policies that relate to your specific job responsibilities. |
 |
If you are not comfortable contacting your supervisor, if you do not receive an adequate response from your supervisor, or if both you and your supervisor still have questions or concerns, talk to another member of the management team. |
 |
If you still have concerns, contact the Office of Corporate Compliance at 346-426-1505. or at corporatecompliance@harrishealth.org |
 |
If, for any reason, you feel that you cannot follow the above steps, you can always call Harris Health’s confidential Corporate Compliance Hotline at 844-565-0621 or use the secure and confidential EthicsPoint site. The Corporate Compliance Hotline and EthicsPoint site are operated by an independent third party, and the Office of Corporate Compliance only receives information authorized by the caller. The Corporate Compliance Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Your identity remains anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself. Additionally, the Office of Corporate Compliance keeps your identity confidential to the extent allowed by law unless your identity is critical for the resolution of an investigation. Harris Health’s Corporate Compliance Officer reviews, investigates and responds to all calls made to the Hotline. |
REPORTING COMPLIANCE ISSUES
Harris Health has a Just and Accountable Culture (JAC). JAC is how Harris Health reacts to and manages human errors, mistakes, and violations of laws or regulations. JAC promotes a process where mistakes, errors, and/or violations of laws or regulations do not result in automatic punishment, but rather result in a process to uncover the source of the error or violation. Errors that are not deliberate or malicious may result in coaching, counseling, and education around the error and/or violation, ultimately decreasing the likelihood of a repeated error or violation.
Both Harris Health’s Code of Conduct and JAC require you to report known or suspected violations of the Code of Conduct. If you have a question or concern about an activity violating the Code of Conduct by being unethical, illegal, or wrong, use the following 4-Step Reporting Process to report your concerns.
|
Talk to your supervisor. He or she is most familiar with the laws, regulations and policies that relate to your specific job responsibilities. |
|
If you are not comfortable contacting your supervisor, if you do not receive an adequate response from your supervisor, or if both you and your supervisor still have questions or concerns, talk to another member of the management team. |
|
If you still have concerns, contact the Office of Corporate Compliance at 346-426-1505. or at corporatecompliance@harrishealth.org |
|
If, for any reason, you feel that you cannot follow the above steps, you can always call Harris Health’s confidential Corporate Compliance Hotline at 844-565-0621 or use the secure and confidential EthicsPoint site. The Corporate Compliance Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Your identity remains anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself. Additionally, the Office of Corporate Compliance keeps your identity confidential to the extent allowed by law unless your identity is critical for the resolution of an investigation. Harris Health’s Corporate Compliance Officer reviews, investigates and responds to all calls made to the Hotline. |
Even though Harris Health has a strict Non-Retaliation Policy (discussed below), if you would like to report violations of the Code of Conduct confidentially, Harris Health will keep your identity confidential to the extent possible.
OUR NON-RETALIATION POLICY
Harris Health does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, reports an actual or suspected violation of the Code of Conduct. Retaliation occurs when unfair consequences such as disciplinary actions or unfavorable pay or promotion decisions are made against an individual who has reported alleged violations of laws, rules, regulations, Harris Health’s Code of Conduct or Harris Health policies and procedures. Any workforce member who conducts or condones retaliation against another workforce member for reporting an actual or suspected violation of the Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. If you believe that you have been retaliated against, please report your concern using the reporting process explained above.
OUR NON-RETALIATION POLICY
Harris Health does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, reports an actual or suspected violation of the Code of Conduct. Retaliation occurs when unfair consequences such as disciplinary actions or unfavorable pay or promotion decisions are made against an individual who has reported alleged violations of laws, rules, regulations, Harris Health’s Code of Conduct or Harris Health policies and procedures. Any workforce member who conducts or condones retaliation against another workforce member for reporting an actual or suspected violation of the Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. If you believe that you have been retaliated against, please report your concern using the reporting process explained above.
HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM CODE OF CONDUCT
STEWARDSHIP
Protecting our patients’ information and Harris Health’s information and resources to enable Harris Health to optimize its infrastructure, and protecting Harris Health’ patients by creating an environment where zero patient harm is the expectation through the provision of safe and high-quality care.
INTEGRITY
High standards of business
and professional ethics and honesty
RESPECT
Recognizing the value of all individuals, treating all individuals with kindness, and enhancing the patient, staff and provider experience by actively listening to feedback and developing a culture of respect, recognition and trust.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Taking responsibility for the patients we serve and the services we provide in becoming a high-reliability organization with zero patient harm and acting
as one system in our approach and management to health care.