What is EthicsPoint?
EthicsPoint is the third party that hosts Advocate Aurora’s Compliance and Integrity Hotline, with operators available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Why do we need a system like EthicsPoint?
Honesty, transparency and ethical conduct are key to Advocate Aurora’s mission. To maintain a culture at Advocate Aurora based on these values, teammates must feel free to openly communicate and bring compliance issues forward. EthicsPoint helps teammates do that by providing an external hotline to report concerns.
Can I report my concern either online or by phone?
Yes. With EthicsPoint, you have the ability to file a confidential, anonymous report either by phone or by online form.
What types of situations should I report?
The EthicsPoint system is designed for teammates to report any violation of our Code of Conduct, or other potential compliance issues. It also can be used to request guidance and/or share compliance stories.
If I see a violation, shouldn't I just report it to my manager, security, or human resources and let them deal with it?
When you observe behavior that you believe in good faith violates our Code of Conduct, or any applicable law or regulation, you are expected to report it.
Ideally, you should feel free to bring such concerns to your leader, to management or directly to the Compliance and Integrity Department. But there may be times when you are not comfortable reporting the issue this way — that is why we have EthicsPoint.
Information provided through the Compliance and Integrity Hotline is sent to EthicsPoint on a totally confidential and anonymous basis.
Why should I report what I know? What’s in it for me?
Compliance is everyone’s responsibility. With this responsibility comes the expectation that all teammates will report potential compliance issues. At the end of the day, we all want to work for an organization that we can trust. Reporting helps maintain a culture of trust and integrity and promote a healthy work environment.
Does management really want me to report my concerns?
Yes. In fact, they expect you to report. You know what is going on at Advocate Health — both good and bad. You may have initial knowledge of an activity that may be cause for concern. You may know about a compliance issue that is flying below everyone else’s radar. Reporting can help patients, promotes an ethical culture and minimizes any potential negative impact on the company and your teammates. Also, offering positive input may help identify issues that can improve our culture and performance.
Where do these reports go? Who can access them?
Reports are entered directly on the EthicsPoint secure server to prevent any possible breach in security. EthicsPoint makes these reports available only to specific individuals within Advocate Health who are charged with evaluating the report, based on the type of violation and location of the incident. Each of these report recipients has had training in keeping these reports confidential.
How do Advocate Aurora teammates contact the Compliance and Integrity Department?
Teammates can find contact information for the Compliance and Integrity Department SharePoint site - you may need to sign in with your employee username/email and password.
Sign in to see Compliance and Integrity contact information.
It is my understanding that any report I send from a company computer generates a server log that shows every website that my PC connects with. Won’t this log identify me as a report originator?
EthicsPoint does not generate or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses, so no information linking your PC to EthicsPoint is available. In fact, EthicsPoint is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter’s identity.
If you feel uncomfortable making a report on your work PC, you have the option of using a PC outside our work environment (such as one located at an internet café, at a friend’s house, etc.) through the EthicsPoint secure website. Many people choose this option. EthicsPoint’s data shows that fewer than 12% of reports are generated during business hours.
Can I file a report from home and still remain anonymous?
A report from home, a neighbor’s computer, or any Internet portal will remain secure and anonymous. An Internet portal never identifies a visitor by screen name and the EthicsPoint system strips away Internet addresses so that anonymity is totally maintained. Plus, EthicsPoint is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter’s identity.
I am concerned that the information I provide EthicsPoint will ultimately reveal my identity. How can you assure me that will not happen?
The EthicsPoint system is designed to protect your anonymity. However, if you wish to remain anonymous, you — as a reporting party — need to ensure that the body of the report does not reveal your identity by accident. For example, “From my cube next to Jan Smith…” or “In my 33 years…”
Will remaining anonymous affect how my concern is investigated?
No, the recipient of your report will investigate your report to the fullest extent possible. However, if you do remain anonymous you may be asked to answer additional questions to proceed with the investigation. Make sure you remember your report key and password so you can respond to questions and post any additional information you may remember later on.
Is the telephone toll-free hot line confidential and anonymous, too?
Yes. You will be asked to provide the same information that you would provide in an internet-based report and an interviewer will type your responses into the EthicsPoint website. These reports have the same security and confidentiality measures applied to them during delivery.
What if I want to be identified with my report?
There is a section in the report for identifying yourself, if you wish. We will make every effort to protect your identity from disclosure as permitted by law; however, we cannot guarantee confidentiality since disclosure may be required during the investigation or in the course of correct action.
I am aware of some individuals involved with unethical conduct, but it doesn't affect me. Why should I bother reporting it?
All unethical conduct that occurs at any level of Advocate Health affects you, your teammates and your work environment. Advocate Health is not a workplace that fosters unethical conduct. We take your reports very seriously and want to do everything possible to mitigate risks. So if you know of any incidents of misconduct or potential compliance violations, it’s your duty to report it.
I am not sure if what I have observed or heard is a violation of company policy, or involves unethical conduct, but it just doesn’t look right to me. What should I do?
Trust your instinct and file a report. EthicsPoint can help you prepare and file your report so it can be properly understood. The Compliance and Integrity Department will then review to determine whether the report involves an actual violation. We'd rather you report a situation that turns out to be harmless than let possible unethical behavior go unchecked. In fact, it is expected that all teammates ask questions and seek guidance when you are uncertain about what to do.
What if my boss or other managers are involved in a violation? Won’t they get the report and start a cover-up?
The EthicsPoint system and report distribution are designed so that implicated parties are not notified or granted access to reports in which they have been named.
What if I remember something important about the incident after I file the report? Or what if the company has further questions for me concerning my report?
When you file a report at the EthicsPoint Web site or through the EthicsPoint Call Center, you receive a unique user name and are asked to choose a password.
You can return to the EthicsPoint system again either online or by phone and access the original report to add more detail or answer questions posed by a company representative and add further information that will help resolve open issues.
We strongly suggest that you return to the site in the time specified to answer company questions. You and the company now have entered into an “anonymous dialogue,” where situations are not only identified, but can also be resolved, no matter how complex.
Are these follow-ups on reports as secure as the first one?
All EthicsPoint correspondences are held in the same strict confidence as the initial report, continuing under the umbrella of anonymity.
Can I still file a report if I don’t have access to the Internet?
You can file an EthicsPoint report from any computer that can access the Internet. You can file from home. Many public locations, including the public library, have Internet computers. If you don’t have access to or are uncomfortable using a computer, you can call the EthicsPoint toll-free hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.