Ethics orientation as a mediator of organizational integrity in health services organizations

Increasing scrutiny of ethical misconduct by federal and state agencies has prompted health services organizations to adopt codes of ethics and institute legal compliance programs. However, there is little understanding of the impact of ethics programs or the manner in which program elements act to enhance organizational integrity. This study examined the effect of five ethics program elements on organizational integrity and the mediating role played by ethics orientation in this relationship. It found that program elements influence organizational integrity by engendering among employees a values orientation, a compliance orientation, or both. Furthermore, program elements that induced both orientations have a larger impact on integrity. These findings have important implications for health services managers involved in designing and implementing an ethics program.