Submitted by D. Scott Jones, CHC, Chief Compliance Officer
We’ve instituted a “time out” philosophy at Augusta Care Partners and Augusta Health, 
to prevent making wrong decisions in the heat of the moment. For example, The Joint Commission mandates a surgical time out in the Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Person Surgery™. At Augusta Care Partners and Augusta Health, we’ve instituted the Integrity, Ethics and Compliance Time Out. The process is simple. Any time you have a concern about doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time, take a short Integrity, Ethics and Compliance Time Out. Talk through the issue with team members. Ask your manager or physicians. Call the compliance office at 540–245-7455, or message Scott Jones at sjones1@augustahealth.com. If you prefer to make an anonymous report you can do so at the Compliance Hotline at 855-298-5598, or at www.augustahealth.ethicspoint.com Let’s consult our ethics and compliance compass, and make sure we do the right thing – every time.
Remember: You can call an Integrity, Ethics and Compliance Time Out anytime!