June 2019 CCH Department Discovery: Ethics Committee

The June 2019 Department Discovery is focusing on committee of staff at Campbell County Health: The Ethics Committee.

When making decisions about health care, patients, families, physicians and other health care providers and staff often face difficult, potentially life-changing situations. Such situations can cause ethically challenging questions about what would be an appropriate course of action. At CCH, the Ethics Committee offers assistance in addressing ethical issues that arise in patient care and facilitates sound decision making that respects participants’ values, concerns, and interests—without stigma or repercussion.

“The Ethics Committee is privileged to have the ability to see inside healthcare and really see how the human element comes out in individuals when faced with tough decisions,” says Patty McJilton, APRN, a Nurse Reviewer in the CCH Quality, Risk, and Care Management Department, and is the Ethics Committee Chair. “There is a realization that ethical issues affect everyone—the patient, the nurse, the physician, the family—and that these ethical issues aren’t always necessarily solved, but allows these individuals an ear for listening, and another outlet when they don’t know where else to turn.”

For those who don’t know, the Ethics Committee can be utilized by anyone and is made up of representatives from CCH staff, community members, physicians and law experts. The committee is also comprised of members from a vast array of different backgrounds, health experience, life experiences, and knowledge from departments across the organization and in the Campbell County, Wyoming community.

“Any individual can feel comfortable seeking help from the Ethics Committee without embarrassment or negativity,” says Patty.

In 2019, the Ethic Committee is working on revamping CCH’s Advanced Directives and developing a new process on how to make the committee members more visible and accessible to all. The Ethics Committee can be reached by contacting Patty at 307.688.1364 or Patricia.mcjilton@ccchwyo.org.

A big round of applause to the Ethics Committee! Thank you for all that you do for keeping our community healthy and safe.