UAB community members have a duty to report any wrongful conduct. Examples of wrongful conduct include:

• Illegal or fraudulent activity
• Violations of law, regulation, UAB policy, contractual obligations, or grant
• A supervisor or UAB official compelling a UAB member to violate a law, regulation, UAB policy, contractual obligation, or grant
• Retaliation taken against a UAB community member

This is not an exhaustive list. If an incident has occurred that you reasonably believe is not consistent with law, regulation, policy, or UAB's Code of Conduct, it is your responsibility to bring the matter to the attention of an individual or unit in a position to review the matter and take action to address it.

1. Supervisor
   It is generally best to communicate the issue first to your immediate supervisor or manager.
2. Directory of UAB Contacts for Compliance Questions
   If you are uncomfortable discussing the matter with your supervisor, or if you think the supervisor has not completely addressed your inquiry, there are other central offices at UAB that can offer you support. The Directory of Contacts for Compliance Questions provides a list of individuals and units who can answer questions about legal, regulatory, or policy-related requirements in specific areas who may also initiate reviews, as appropriate.
3. UAB Hotline
   There may be times when you do not feel comfortable reporting your concern to an individual or unit internally or feel that doing so has been unsuccessful in resolving the issue. In these instances, you should not feel restricted to reporting through traditional management channels. You may call the UAB Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (866) 362-9476 or file a report online opens a new website. In your report, you may remain anonymous, although providing contact information helps to facilitate an investigation.
4. Outside Resources
   Although UAB welcomes direct reports of wrongful conduct so that it may review and address them quickly and thoroughly, there are outside resources available for reporting, as well. Entities to whom disclosure may be made include:
   • a member of Congress or representative of a committee of Congress;
   • an Inspector General;
   • the Government Accountability Office;
   • a federal employee responsible for contract oversight or management at the relevant agency;
   • an authorized official at the Department of Justice or other law enforcement agency; and
   • a court or grand jury.
   An employee who believes that he or she has been discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against may submit a complaint with the Inspector General of the most appropriate federal agency. Procedures for submitting fraud, waste, abuse, and whistleblower complaints are generally accessible on Office of Inspector General Hotline or Whistleblower Internet sites.

Anyone can make a report through the UAB Hotline. The UAB Hotline is designed for use by all members of the UAB community – faculty, staff, students, patients, volunteers, visitors, vendors, contractors -- regardless of whether the concern relates to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Health System, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (HSF), or other UAB affiliates.

The hotline is administered by Navex, a third-party organization. When you call the toll-free number, a Navex employee will gather specific information from you related to the reported activity.  You may be asked additional questions that are specific to UAB or the nature of the incident. The information you report will be provided to UAB. At your discretion, you may or may not choose to share your name and contact information.

Once you submit a report, it is downloaded, and an incident report is built and sent to UAB.  You will be given an incident report number so that you can add information to the report and/or follow up on your report's status at a later date.

Yes.  At no time will your report to the UAB Hotline be traced or recorded.  In addition, UAB will not attempt to determine the identity of any anonymous caller.  However, it is important to understand that the information you provide may be the basis for an investigation or review by UAB, and that your identity may be inadvertently discovered during the course of that review.  Any such information is used with discretion by the investigators.  Even if that happens, UAB will not retaliate against anyone who reports any concern in good faith.

If you are contacted to participate in an investigation or review, you will be expected to cooperate fully and answer any questions openly and honestly.  You should keep the matter completely confidential and not speak to anyone about it, unless as directed by the reviewer assigned to the case.  If you have concerns about the review or questions about what you should do as a participant in a review, you may contact the Office of Compliance and Risk Assurance at (205) 996-6540.  In addition, you may be asked to assist in the development and implementation of any corrective actions resulting from the investigation or review.