Code of Ethics

Introduction

The International Academy of Elder Care Managers (IAECM) is committed to promoting ethical and professional rehabilitation services at all times. IAECM recognizes that medical and vocational rehabilitation services are provided under a variety of international, federal, local, and state laws or administrative codes, and in a wide variety of private and public venues. However, certain practices are applicable in any of these care management settings. This document addresses nine areas of ethical practice followed by IAECM members who practice. IAECM expects its members to adhere to the standards and ethical guidelines applicable to their professional discipline, licensing, and/or credentialing organizations and to refer to those respective Codes of Ethics for specific guidelines as well as to the IAECM guidelines. If there is a conflict in the respective Codes and IAECM guidelines, the Code is binding.

A1) Conflict of Interest 

IAECM members are to respect the integrity and protect the welfare of the individuals or groups to whom their work pertains. IAECM members’ primary obligation is always to the client, defined as the person with or without a disability to whom their assignment pertains. There may be institutional recipients of services that are provided for the benefit of an organization, not that of a single individual.

A2) Detrimental/Exploitive Relationships

IAECM members are to conduct themselves in the role for which their services are retained. Members may not use their professional position to promote other products or services. At the outset and throughout the professional relationship, members will disclose to their clients professional boundaries, particularly if those involve multiple services on the same case where there exists a high potential for ethical conflict.

A3) Objectivity

a) For purposes of this document, objectivity is defined as providing an evaluation and arriving at the same conclusions without bias given the same set of facts.

b) It is the responsibility of IAECM members to maintain objectivity in all cases and in appropriate situations. Members are also obligated to engage in the objective use of available resources and reference data in supporting an opinion or in the development of a plan of care format.

A4) Competency

IAECM members, while practicing in a number of diverse fields and areas of expertise, are obligated to maintain professional and technical competency at such a level that the recipient receives the highest quality of service that the member’s discipline(s) is capable of offering through their education, training, or supervised experience. Members will not misrepresent their current credentials or the extent of their expertise within related scopes of practice.

A5) Confidentiality

a) The purpose of confidentiality is to safeguard information that is obtained in the course of practice. Disclosure of information is restricted to what is necessary, relevant, and verifiable with respect to the client’s right to privacy. IAECM members must be sure to obtain the necessary written authorizations from the client, and when a third party is involved, to make sure that the client is aware from the onset that the delivery of service is being monitored. Professional files, reports, records, and working environment shall be maintained under conditions of security and with provisions for proper destruction of records when appropriate.

b) IAECM members should adhere to appropriate disclosure of confidential information to referral sources and other professionals providing services on the same case.

A6) Multicultural/Diversity Issues

a) IAECM members should always be mindful of, and respect, the cultural/ ethnic differences of clients from other backgrounds. Members should avail themselves of workshops/trainings in diversity issues and, if possible, research those issues prior to the first meeting with the client, as well as be aware of their own biases and their potential impact on service delivery.

b) IAECM members will not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, military history, criminal record, or socioeconomic status.

c) Regarding language issues, IAECM members will be proactive in securing interpreter or translator services when needed to facilitate communication with the client.

A7) Appropriate Role for Practitioner

a) IAECM members are obligated to secure the most appropriate services for clients within the standards of local, state, or federal law and within the scope of practice. Those services may include:

i. Providing the client with a professional disclosure statement verbally and/or in writing and documenting such activity;

ii. Setting clear, attainable rehabilitation goals;

iii. Making appropriate referrals to allied professionals when needed and providing appropriate case coordination with other service providers;

iv. Providing only those services that the member is qualified to provide;

v. Referring an individual to another professional who may be more qualified to render needed services, when necessary;

vi. Assisting in resolving conflicts that arise;

vii. Conducting face-to-face contact with the client whenever possible or feasible.

A8) Social Advocacy

With regard to the individual with a disability, advocacy takes into account such issues as the legal rights of elder individuals with disabilities to achieve integration into the social, cultural, and economic life of the general community. The role of the IAECM member as an advocate is to protect and promote the welfare of elderly individuals with disabilities to maximize their potential for community integration to the best of their capabilities. IAECM members are encouraged to stay informed about emerging legislation trends and issues within the rehabilitation field serving individuals with disabilities.

A9) Electronic Communication

a) IAECM members will be held to the same level of expected ethical behavior regardless of the form of communication, e.g., cellular phones, electronic mail (e-mail), fax, video, or any and all other audio-visual media.

b) IAECM members will exercise responsible, ethical behavior at all times; respect the need for confidentiality; and adhere to the standards set forth by their individual credentialing and/or licensing boards, if applicable.

c) IAECM members will not use electronic communications to send copies of copyrighted documents, if such a transmission would be in violation of copyright laws.

d) It may be difficult at times to verify the identity of a client, client’s guardian, or the care management professional. IAECM members will take the necessary steps to address these concerns by such means as professional disclosure to the client regarding the potential of imposters in electronic communication.

e) Attempting unauthorized access to data, attempting to breach any security measures on an electronic communication system, or attempting to intercept any electronic communication transmissions without proper authorization will represent a breach of acceptable behavior by an IAECM member.

f) In situations where access to clients is allowed, IAECM members are expected to inform clients and referral sources of the potential hazards of unsecured communications via e-mail and the internet. Hazards may include authorized or unauthorized monitoring of transmissions and/or records of sessions and difficulty ensuring complete confidentiality of information transmitted through electronic communication over the internet.

g) Case-related transmissions made by e-mail, facsimile, text message, or other communication media will be regarded as case documentation and will be stored in the case file and will be afforded the same degree of confidentiality as written progress notes and reports.