CSR
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CSR PROFILE BOOK
Questionnaire
1. How does the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility correspond with the mission and heritage of your company?
The mission of the DCC “Greenberg” Centre is to provide full medical service to all patients, regardless of origin, on a 24/7 basis – i.e. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing specialists in every field, a complete laboratory facility, X-rays, Mammography, Cardiac (Echo) ultrasound., Halter monitor, ultrasounds for gynaecological and gastro-intestinal use, Ophthalmic microscopes and computer measurement of eyes, Physical therapy, and psychotherapy. In this way, patients can make their health care at an “all-in-one” facility, obviating the need to visit different hospitals and laboratories. While we operate an out-patient facility, we have admission privileges to all major hospitals and private hospitals should our patients need additional treatment as an in-patient.
We use the term “business ethics” now as something that has been lacking in a lot of businesses, such as Enron (U.S.), Elf (France), and more. Often we see it when it is missing. There is no set of laws that define the term. It often includes honesty and fair treatment to all the stakeholders of the organization, obedience to laws, and perhaps protecting (and not polluting) the environment. We can evaluate whether a firm pays its taxes, but not whether each employee delivers a fair day’s work for a fair pay; whether a firm pays its bills, but not whether it looks after the needs of the clients; whether it pays a dividend, but not whether the directors have the firm’s best interests at heart.
Because each organization defines its stakeholders differently, declares its unique mission, and develops its own technology for delivery services or products, each firm must also hold its uniquely different definition of corporate social responsibility, and determine how it fulfils its social contract.
Perhaps no field demands social responsibility to the extent that healthcare organizations must. A field that routinely deals with life and death as a matter of routine; where the constituents are first viewed “parentally”, then as children, and ultimately as the aged; where trust and power is uniquely given to the people “in white coats,” who bear the responsibility for the integrity of the individual, the family, and ultimately all of society.
All doctors throughout the world take the ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath, which predates the very concept of “corporation,” not to mention the concept of “Corporate Social Responsibility.” One of the basic precepts is, “First, do no harm.” This is a critical concept, that without a “magic bullet,” as penicillin was first called, for a particular disease, one must at least not cause further harm. But more to the point, one must use his or her skills and training to benefit patients, and ultimately society.
As the Diagnostic and Consultative Centre “Dr. I. S. Greenberg” is a healthcare organization and the majority of employees are doctors, the first demonstration of ethical philosophy comes from the ancient doctors’ oath. But beyond helping patients using the most current modes of treatment and sophisticated technology, we also endeavour to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and rights of the patients and staff; to keep our costs low so we can provide services at reasonable prices for our Bulgarian patients; to obey all biological hazard regulations regarding disposal of medical waste, protecting the environment and the health of the citizenry; and pay a decent wage to all employees, commensurate with their training and their workload.
CSR CATEGORIES
2. What is your company's CSR involvement with the COMMUNITY?
We participate in activities to improve healthcare for the community. We are founding members of the Organization of Private Healthcare Providers, endeavouring to lobby on behalf of Bulgarians to work with the Government Healthcare Reform. We have performed public service activities, such as television programs on the hazards of smoking and discussion of the psychological impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks; print articles on smoking cessation and treating lower back pain, dealing with gynaecological problems, drug addiction, and high blood pressure. We also participate in programs to encourage prophylactic care for men (e.g. PSA assay to detect prostate cancer) and women (PAP smear to detect uterine cancer, breast ultrasound, and mammogram). Our staff has given lectures to student groups and public forums as well as attending conferences to publicize what we believe to be sound healthcare practices. This also includes discussing issues of drug addiction and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Ellen Greenberg initiated with Chris Foley, the nurse practitioner at the American Embassy, a weekly seminar on improving health through diet and exercise, which was open to the public for free.
3. What is your company's CSR involvement with the ENVIRONMENT?
We are environmentally friendly, following all health code regulations for disposal of biological and medical waste. We aid in overall environmental cleanup by keeping our premises absolutely hygienic and encouraging best practice of all employees and patients.
4. What is your company's CSR attitude towards your EMPLOYEES?
Our basic policy to our employees is to nurture each employee, doctors, nursing staff, and office staff, to help them develop to the best of their abilities. We have helped our medical staff to obtain funding to attend international conferences, and to train their colleagues on return. We make explicit the duties of each position, and the rules and regulations of the clinic in general, making sure that everyone understands these and also the penalties for breaking rules. We make explicit the ways in which employees can increase their income; thus, everyone is aware of what the standards of excellence are. We hold meetings as opportunities for employee brainstorming and otherwise participate in decision-making. And of course we have social events to help develop the “esprit de corps,” first defined by Henri Fayol - that is, a good team spirit.
5. What is your company's CSR involvement with YOUNG PEOPLE and EDUCATION?
It is hard to separate the Greenberg Centre’s involvement with young people and education from that of myself, Ellen Greenberg. As a professor of Management, Human Resource Management, Corporate Culture, Business Strategy and Ethics, I am always involved with young people and education. Aside from formal classes (at the American University in Bulgaria, Sofia University, and the University of National and World Economics), which all include information about the Medical Centre’s activities and ethical dilemmas, I have spoken last May at two of the BBLF Career nights at the UNWE in healthcare management and entrepreneurship, I have trained teachers who work with students in Junior Achievement Bulgaria, and have worked developing management programs for UNDP, USIA, and some private firms. I have also written cases on unethical business practices which have been used internationally.
As noted above, we do encourage further education among our staff, by providing opportunities for participation in conferences. Also, our public service work on anti-smoking and the need for prophylactic care are targeted to the young and middle-aged.
6. What is your company's practice of BUSINESS ETHICS?
I believe this topic has been covered in the above statements. I am strongly committed to following a code of ethics, similar to that of the BBLF, in my personal and professional lives. Ethical practice means applying fair and firm policies equitably across the organization, equitable treatment of all employees, applying the latest and best medical practice for all patients, paying fair wages to employees and asking reasonable and affordable fees from patients. We have consistently refused to pay bribes to officials to get favorable treatment, and in general have acted in accordance with recognized standards of ethical behavior.
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