---
title: Code of Conduct
date: 2021-04-13T16:05:00-05:00
author: Click Rain Admin
canonical_url: "https://www.schneckmed.org/code-of-conduct"
section: Pages
---
![Indiana Hospital Association IHA Member united patient and visitor code of conduct principles](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_50x19_crop_center-center_none/IHA-full-width-copy.jpg) # Code of Conduct

Indiana Hospital Association members shall consider the below principles that promote a safe and respectful environment for inclusion into their organization’s code of conduct policies/procedures.

 

 

   **1. Promotion of a Safe and Respectful Environment**

- Acknowledgement that the hospital can be a stressful place

- Explanation that a safe and respectful environment results in better care for all patients
- Understanding that some behaviors are a result of a medical condition and/or diminished mental capacity and potential consequences listed below may not be applicable

**2. Communication of Behavioral Expectations**

Consideration for behavioral expectations may include (but not limited to):

- Use of respectful language and maintaining volume appropriate for indoors
- Be considerate to the privacy and confidentiality of all patients
- Leave equipment and supplies alone
- Keep weapons and firearms outside of the hospital facility
- Refrain from physical interaction or touching of staff or others

Examples of behaviors that violate these expectations may include (but are not limited to):

- Verbal Actions: Purposeful threatening, discriminatory, bullying, disrespectful, or offensive language towards staff, patients, and visitors
- Physical Actions: Purposeful aggressive, abusive, or violent behaviors towards staff, patients, and visitors
- Interference with hospital operations: Any destruction of hospital property/equipment or trespassing into unauthorized areas
- Disruption of other patients’ care or experience: Taking photos or videos of patients, visitors, and/or staff without permission (includes posting those photos/videos on social media platforms)
- Possession of weapons or firearms

**3. Communication of Potential Consequences for Behavioral Violations**

- Consideration for potential consequences may include (but not limited to):
- Violations to be addressed by hospital staff per the organization’s policies and procedures
- Review of patient’s care plan with potential discontinuation of non-emergent services (eg., EMTALA mandates to treat those patients that come through our emergency departments)
- Develop a safety plan for patients who have violated the hospital’s code of conduct
- Report of violations to the appropriate authorities
- Request and/or escort off the premises

**IHA MEMBER UNITED PATIENT AND VISITOR CODE OF CONDUCT PRINCIPLES**

Approved by the IHA Board of Directors on October 23. 2023

**4. Direct Patients, Visitors, and Staff to Support the Code of Conduct**

- Patients shall alert members of their care team if they observe or are a victim of behaviors or actions that violate the Code of Conduct.
- Retaliation of a code of conduct violation is prohibited.
- Staff shall report all observed or experienced violations of the Code of Conduct to the appropriate individual or office of the organization.