History

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, founded in 1925 on Judaic tradition and rooted in the ethics of healing and devoted service, is dedicated to caring for all people regardless of religion, race, national origin or the ability to pay. A not-for-profit multi-specialty teaching hospital, it provides the most advanced medical treatment and excellence in both acute and long-term patient care

Mission

To partner with our culturally diverse communities to provide a continuum of outstanding health care services to individuals and families through a caring and trustworthy staff.

Vision

We will be distinguished as a premier hospital and trusted partner that advances the well being of the individuals, families and communities we serve.

Values

Compassion

Respect

Ethics

Excellence

Dependability

Introduction

The Code of Conduct establishes the general standards, policies and procedures with which all must comply. Each Board of Trustees member, officer, employee, Medical-Dental staff member, Adjunct Staff member, volunteer, consultant, contractor and vendor (each a “Kingsbrook Affiliate”) is required to read, understand and fully comply with the standards established by the Code of Conduct. Copies of the full Corporate Compliance Program are available in the Department of Human Resources, office of the Corporate Compliance Officer, and on the Medical Center’s website

It is expected that you will ensure that all of the duties you perform on behalf of Kingsbrook will comply with applicable laws, regulations and policies. In addition, you are expected to report to your supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the Compliance Hotline suspected or known violations of the Corporate Compliance Program. It is Kingsbrook’s policy that no adverse action or retribution will be taken against any Kingsbrook Affiliate for reporting in good faith a suspected violation.

If you have any questions regarding the Corporate Compliance Program or this Code of Conduct, you should speak with your supervisor, a Department Head or the Compliance Officer.

Quality of Care

Kingsbrook’s mission is to provide a continuum of outstanding health care services to a culturally diverse community. It is our vision to be distinguished as a premier hospital and trusted partner that advances the well being of individuals, families and communities we serve. All Kingsbrook Affiliates shall, as appropriate

• Comply with Kingsbrook policies and applicable federal, state and local laws governing patient/resident care, including but not limited to patient/resident rights, patient/resident complaints, and the confidentiality of patient/resident records and information.
• Comply with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) in providing medical screening examinations and emergency medical treatment to all patients, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.
• Not discriminate based on a patient’s/resident’s race, age, sex, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, diagnosis or ability to pay.
• Ensure that all patients/residents admitted to our facilities shall receive the same quality of care regardless of insurance coverage or payer source.
• Inform their patients, and their representatives, of all information needed to make decisions regarding the patient’s care, and shall listen to and follow the choices made by the patients (or their representatives) with respect to their clinical care, including, the choices expressed by their advance directives and health care agents.
• Any Kingsbrook Affiliate who has knowledge of an event or deficiency must report it to a supervisor, department head, Risk Management or other member of the management team because Kingsbrook is mandated to report certain patient/resident related events and deficiencies to various governmental and/or regulatory agencies. The issues which must be reported include, but are not limited to:
  • Patient events
  • Problems with Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved devices
  • Elder abuse
  • Child abuse
  • Domestic violence

Compliance with Laws/Regulations

Kingsbrook strives to comply with all of the rules and regulations governing its operation. In order to assist Kingsbrook’s compliance, all Kingsbrook Affiliates:

• Are required to obey all federal, state and local laws and government regulations pertaining to Kingsbrook.
• Are expected to be familiar with the basic legal requirements that are relevant to his or her duties.
• Are expected to comply with licensure and certification requirements associated with the performance of their job or duties, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
• Shall comply with Kingsbrook’s departmental, administrative and human resources policies and procedures.
• Shall comply with Kingsbrook policies, applicable federal, state and city law governing patient care including but not limited to patient/resident rights, patient/resident complaints, and the confidentiality of patient/ resident records and information.
• Shall refrain from offering or receiving kickbacks or improper inducements to influence Kingsbrook’s decisions regarding purchases of health care services or supplies or regarding patient referrals.
• Shall comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in protecting against the misuse or disclosure of patients’ health information.

§ Shall comply with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act) and the Medical Center’s Identity Theft Prevention Program in preventing identity theft of our patients and residents.

• All Kingsbrook Affiliates are expected to report any possible violation of law or ethical standards in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Corporate Compliance Program.

Conflicts of Interest

All Kingsbrook Affiliates are expected to be loyal to Kingsbrook, to avoid using his or her position for personal gain and to comply with the conflict of interest policy. Generally speaking, a conflict of interest exists when an obligation or situation resulting from an individual’s personal activities or financial affairs may adversely influence his or her judgment in the performance of his or her duty to Kingsbrook.

• It is the policy of Kingsbrook that Kingsbrook will not enter into business arrangements with companies in which a Trustee or employee, or a close relative of a Trustee or employee has an ownership interest or financial relationship.
• It is the policy of Kingsbrook that a Trustee or employee may not work for or provide services to a Kingsbrook supplier during the course of their employment with Kingsbrook. In the event that a Trustee or employee wishes to work for or provide services to a Kingsbrook supplier, the Trustee or employee must first disclose the nature of the proposed arrangement to the CEO and obtain the CEO’s documented approval, in consultation with the CCO.
• It is Kingsbrook’s policy that no Trustee or employee may have an ownership interest in or a financial relationship with:
  • A consultant of Kingsbrook
  • A non-publicly traded company that is a supplier of Kingsbrook
  • A competitor of Kingsbrook

· A Trustee or employee is never to accept anything of value from someone doing business with Kingsbrook if the gratuity is offered or appears to be offered in exchange for any type of advantage or favorable treatment. No gift or gratuity in any form may be accepted by a Trustee or employee or any family member of a trustee or employee unless the gift is a commonly distributed item of modest value. Gifts with an estimated value of over $100 from one individual or organization during the course of the year must be reported to the Corporate Compliance Officer.

Billing and Coding Integrity

Kingsbrook and its professional staff provide a wide range of services to patients. It is crucial that billing statements to patients and third-party payors accurately reflect the services actually provided, who performed the services, and the correct charges for those services.

• No employee shall submit a bill or claim for reimbursement for a more complex service or item than the service or item provided.
• Bills or claims for reimbursement must accurately reflect the rules of third-party payors regarding bundling of certain services.
• No duplicate or separate bill shall be submitted for outpatient services provided within the DRG window for inpatient admissions.
• Claims shall only be submitted for services that are medically necessary and actually rendered. As a part of Kingsbrook’s utilization management program, Kingsbrook’s professional staff will periodically conduct reviews to ensure all services rendered are medically necessary.
• No employee shall ever bill Medicare as a primary payor when he or she is aware that other types of insurance are available.
• Kingsbrook financial staff and Kingsbrook’s external auditors must guard against submission of inflated or inaccurate cost reports.
• Credit balances may occur when overpayments are made to Kingsbrook. Employees shall report the existence of a credit balance to their supervisors to ensure the appropriate reporting process is initiated to enable Kingsbrook to fulflll its responsibility to report such balances to Medicare and/or Medicaid, as appropriate.

Respectful Environment

Safe and competent patient care requires effective communication, collaboration and collegiality by and among all Kingsbrook Affiliates. Thus, all Kingsbrook Affiliates are expected to treat others with respect, courtesy, and dignity, and shall conduct themselves in a professional and cooperative manner, refraining from disruptive behavior and inappropriate conduct. Examples of disruptive behavior and inappropriate conduct which are not acceptable on Kingsbrook premises, include, but are not limited to:

• threatening or abusive language directed at other Kingsbrook Affiliates, or at patients, family members, or other visitors (e.g., belittling, berating, and/or non-constructive criticism that intimidates, undermines confidence, or implies incompetence);
• degrading or demeaning comments regarding other Kingsbrook Affiliates, patients, family members, or other visitors;
• profanity or similarly offensive language while speaking with or in front of other Kingsbrook Affiliates, patients, family members, or other visitors;
• inappropriate physical contact with another individual that is threatening or intimidating;
• derogatory comments about the quality of care being provided by Kingsbrook, another Kingsbrook Affiliate, or any other individual which comments are made outside of appropriate administrative and/or Medical Staff channels;
• inappropriate medical record entries impugning the quality of care being provided by Kingsbrook, or any other Kingsbrook Affiliate;
• "sexual harassment," which includes any verbal and/or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome and offensive to those individuals who are subjected to it or who witness and is affected by it, including, without limitation:

§ Verbal harassment through innuendoes, epithets, derogatory slurs, off-color jokes, propositions, graphic commentaries, threats, and/or suggestive or insulting sounds;

§ Visual or Non-Verbal harassment through derogatory posters, cartoons, or drawings; suggestive objects or pictures; leering; and/or obscene gestures;

§ Physical harassment through unwanted physical contact, including touching, interference with an individual's normal work movement, and/or assault; and

§ Other: making or threatening retaliation as a result of an individual's negative response to harassing conduct.

Kingsbrook promulgates policies, procedures, rules and regulations to ensure its safe, compliant and effective operation, and the quality of care it delivers. Thus refusal to abide by this Code of Conduct; administrative, departmental and other policies and procedures; and the Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, which relate to the Kingsbrook Affiliates’ relationship with Kingsbrook (including, but not limited to, those requirements regarding emergency call issues, response times, medical record keeping, patient care responsibilities, and unwillingness to work cooperatively and harmoniously with others) constitutes unacceptable disruptive and inappropriate behavior.

Human Resources

All employment at Kingsbrook is based on individual merit, personal qualifications and the ability of the applicant to perform the job. Kingsbrook recognizes that everyone, regardless of job classification, belongs to a knowledgeable and skilled health care team which contributes to patient care.

• Kingsbrook does not discriminate in any employment decisions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship.
• Kingsbrook provides a work environment that enables everyone to work with security and dignity, free from unwelcome, insulting, degrading or exploitive treatment or harassment.
• Kingsbrook encourages and supports a working environment that is free of illegal drugs or alcohol.
• Kingsbrook hires only qualified individuals with proper expertise, license and experience. Qualifications are verified before offering employment.
• Kingsbrook shall not employ or contract with an individual or entity that has been excluded from participation in the Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federally funded healthcare program.

§ Kingsbrook is required to conduct a reasonable credentialing investigation using due diligence before granting privileges to professional staff. This obligation applies to all professions for which a license or certification is required.

§ Federal and state law require Kingsbrook to check all individuals, regardless of whether their position requires a license, to ensure that they are not sanctioned, excluded from participation in Medicare or Medicaid, involved in unlawful drug use, or have criminal backgrounds that are inappropriate for the position for which they are applying.

Safeguarding Medical Center Assets

It is the responsibility of all Kingsbrook Affiliates to maintain the integrity of Kingsbrook’s assets, including financial records, equipment, information and data, and facilities against loss, theft and misuse.

• Employees may never participate in the misstatement of Kingsbrook’s accounts.
• Kingsbrook Affiliates may not remove Kingsbrook property (including, without limitation, medical equipment, medical records and portions of medical records) from the premises unless prior approval has been obtained.
• Kingsbrook Affiliates are required to safeguard access to data, systems and other proprietary assets. It is essential that all Kingsbrook Affiliates properly utilize and protect passwords, and take other necessary precautions to guard against access to information.
• Where an employee is responsible for acquiring and disposing of assets, such employee must be careful to stay within the limits of his or her authority.

Environmental Considerations

Kingsbrook is committed to the provision of a safe, functional and effective environment in which health, safety, privacy and comfort of patients, employees and visitors are the first priority.

• Supervisors and managers, with the assistance of the Safety Officer, are responsible for developing programs to identify, eliminate or minimize any hazards to health and safety in accordance with applicable law.
• Any practice or condition thought to be unsafe must be reported to the Safety Officer immediately.
• All hazardous and infectious waste must be stored, handled and disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local regulations. Any instances of noncompliance must be reported to the Safety Officer.
• Kingsbrook maintains a smoke-free environment. Patients and residents may smoke only in designated smoke areas.

Kingsbrook Affiliate Issues and Concerns

The success of the Compliance Program depends on maintaining open and effective channels of communication. Kingsbrook Affiliates must be willing to identify and report problems and issues, especially those with regulatory implication. The management team at Kingsbrook is prepared to address issues as they are identified. Managers are encouraged to maintain an open door policy so that employees may refer issues without fear of reprisal.

• If you become aware of an activity that you think may be problematic, or if you have questions about the Code of Conduct or Compliance Program, please contact your supervisor immediately. If you are not comfortable doing that, contact the Compliance Officer.
• For additional guidance regarding Kingsbrook policies and procedures, the appropriate manuals should be consulted.
• It is the obligation of all Kingsbrook Affiliates to report to the Compliance Officer conduct he or she reasonably believes to be criminal in nature or a violation of this Program.
• Retaliation against a Kingsbrook Affiliate for reporting something he or she sincerely believes may be a violation, or for participating in good faith in an investigation of misconduct, is prohibited. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and appropriate actions will be taken.
• Compliance with the Code of Conduct will be addressed in the performance evaluations of all Kingsbrook employees.
• Individuals who violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action under those Kingsbrook policies and procedures which govern their relationship with Kingsbrook (including, without limitation, and as applicable, the Employee Handbook, Kingsbrook’s Bylaws, the Administrative Policy and Procedure Manual, and/or the Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations). Such discipline may include, without limitation (and as applicable), termination of any relationship, employment, contractual arrangement or clinical privileges with Kingsbrook, and/or removal from Kingsbrook premises.