Standards of Conduct

Compliance Starts With You!

UT Health San Antonio recognizes that its academic, healthcare, and research operations involve significant legal and ethical responsibilities. Therefore, UT Health San Antonio is committed to full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and guidelines governing each.

The Standards of Conduct (SOC) is an abbreviated guide to UT Health San Antonio’s expectations and standards of behavior. The purpose of the SOC is to communicate to all UT Health San Antonio faculty, trainees, students, staff, and other workforce members the expectation and understanding that the institution’s compliance program and responsibilities extend beyond the Institutional Compliance and Privacy Office to encompass all who work and study at UT Health San Antonio.

Our culture rests on each person’s integrity, professionalism, understanding of responsibilities, and effort to uphold the highest ethical standards in carrying out UT Health San Antonio’s mission of excellence.

The UT Health San Antonio’s Standards of Conduct is readily available to anyone, at any time, to clarify expectations for all who serve the institution.

Review the Standards of Conduct

  • Message from the President

    To All Employees: In order to be successful in the 21st century, it is important that the UT Health San Antonio clearly articulate not only its mission, but also its commitment to ethical conduct and integrity in the workplace. We have made a sincere effort and commitment to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This site sets forth an overview of the efforts we have made in implementing a comprehensive Institutional Compliance Program (Program). The principle functions of the Program are as follows:

    • – To perform a risk assessment of the institution’s compliance issues.
    • – To continuously assess and monitor the effectiveness of compliance activities.
    • – To provide education and training on the compliance program and applicable laws and regulations that affect the University.
    • – To communicate instances of non-compliance to the Compliance Officer and the Compliance & Ethics Committee.
    • – To follow-up on compliance issues to ensure that appropriate corrective action has been taken.

     

    It is our intention that all employees understand how to do their jobs properly within applicable legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. We all share the responsibility of behaving ethically, identifying any internal problems, and reporting them to the right people. This booklet describes some of the systems and resources in place to assist you in understanding and carrying out your legal and ethical obligations. The public trusts us to provide the highest level of teaching, research, patient care, and public service, and to carry out these responsibilities with integrity. Your efforts in complying with all standards is important to this institution and the public. William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP President

  • Mission, Vision, Core Values

    Mission Statement

    The mission of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, now called UT Health San Antonio, is to make lives better through excellence in education, research, health care and community engagement.

    ​Strategies for achieving this mission are:

    • – Educating a diverse student body to become excellent health care providers and scientists.
    • – Engaging in research to understand health and disease.
    • – Commercializing discoveries, as appropriate, to benefit the public.
    • – Providing compassionate and culturally proficient health care.
    • – Engaging our community to improve health. Influencing thoughtful advances in health policy.

    Approved by: The University of Texas System Board of Regents, November 10, 2011, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, April 25, 2012.

    Vision

    To be a world-class academic health center transforming health and health care for a diverse society.

    Core Values

    Accountability: We are committed to responsible and transparent stewardship of university resources.

    Diversity: We strive for inclusivity across the university.

    Excellence: We continue to strive for excellence through creativity, innovation and dedication.

    Innovation: We discover, create, develop and measure new, exciting and effective methods of education or pedagogy, research and clinical care.

    Integrity: We are truthful, equitable and committed to intellectual honesty.

    Professionalism: We will maintain the highest standards of professionalism through ethical behavior, life-long learning and respect for all members of the university.

    Teamwork and Collaboration: We support each other and promote interprofessional collaboration.

    Tradition: We learn from our history, create an optimistic future and promote the unique nature of the health science center environment.​

    Source:  Office of the President​

  • Institutional Compliance Program

    UT Health San Antonio’s Compliance Program is intended to demonstrate, in the clearest possible terms, the absolute commitment of UT Health San Antonio to the highest standards of ethics and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, and policies.

    UT Health San Antonio is committed to thorough monitoring of the implementation of the Institutional Compliance Program, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Institutional Compliance & Privacy Office (ICPO) in coordination with other departments is responsible for compliance monitoring activities.

    With the Institutional Compliance Program, the University promotes compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements; fosters and helps ensure ethical conduct; and, provides education, training, and guidance to all faculty and staff. The Program is designed to prevent accidental or intentional non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations; to detect such non-compliance, if it occurs; to discipline those involved in non-compliant behavior, and prevent future non-compliance.

    With the aid of the Compliance & Ethics Committee, the Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for implementing and monitoring a continuous and proactive compliance function for the University.

    The Compliance & Ethics Committee of UT Health San Antonio has the responsibility to:

    • – Ensure that the Institutional Compliance Program is risk-based and considers all aspects of the institution’s operation.
    • – Review and approve the annual institutional compliance work plan.
    • – Ensure continuous and effective monitoring of institutionally designated compliance high-risk activities.
    • – Provide oversight and guidance to investigations being conducted by the Office of Institutional Compliance & Privacy (ICPO).

     

    Follow-up on all instances of non-compliance reported to the Committee to ensure management has taken appropriate corrective action. Serve as the official Privacy Board for the institution.​

  • Employee's Responsibilities and the Guiding Principle

    The University’s guiding principle is simple: Do what’s right. Although it is simple to write and say, sometimes it is difficult to do. When faced with a tough ethical decision, review the following checklist:

    • – Does the action comply with the University’s policies and procedures?
    • – Is the action legal?
    • – How would the action look to your family and friends, our patients, and the general public if it were published on the newspaper’s front page?
    • – Would the action make you feel bad if you did it?
    • – Are you being fair and honest?
    • – Is the action consistent with the University’s policies and procedures?
    • – If you know it’s wrong, don’t do it!
    • – If you’re not sure, ask until you get an answer.

    Ethical behavior is the responsibility of every employee and student. Each one of us has a personal obligation to report any activity that appears to violate applicable laws, regulations, rules, policies, and/or procedures.​

    Our Door is Open…if you have questions or concerns about a possible compliance issue, contact us at 1-877-507-7317 or submit a simple online report form.

  • Supervisors' and Managers' Responsibilities

    ​Management personnel at every level are expected to set an ethical “tone” at the top and be role models for ethical behavior in their departments. Management should create a departmental culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance and encourages everyone in the department to voice concerns when they arise.

    Managers and supervisors include all individuals who have as a part of their job description the supervision of any University employee. The promotion of and adherence to the Institutional Compliance Program by all managers and supervisors is considered an integral part of their job performance. Additionally, employee awareness of and adherence to the Institutional Compliance Program is used as one element or measurement tool in the evaluation process for continuing employment and promotions.

    Managers and supervisors are required to ensure and verify that all employees attend appropriate compliance training. Supervisors and managers must inform employees that the University will take disciplinary action for violation of these policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements and that strict adherence to the laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures are a condition of employment.

  • Education, Training, and Enforcement

    As an institution of higher education, the University is committed to effectively communicating our standards and procedures to all employees by providing education and training to develop compliance awareness and commitment. All employees must attend both general compliance awareness training, as well as specialized compliance training applicable to their job functions.

    Any employee who violates University policies and procedures is subject to disciplinary action. The specific discipline administered will depend on the nature and severity of the violation, as well as the consequences to the University of individual violations.

    Disciplinary action may include any of the following actions: verbal warnings, written warnings, fines, suspension, and termination. Actions that constitute an intentional violation or reckless disregard of criminal, civil, or administrative law may result in disciplinary action and possible criminal prosecution by the appropriate federal, state, and/or local agencies. ​