 | More Information | |
|
|
|
|
| | Patients Rights and Responsibilities
In the case of minor patients, the following Rights and Regulations of Patients shall also be retained by such patients’ or guardians.
Patient Rights
ACCESS TO CARE – Individuals shall be accorded access to impartial treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, or sources of payment for care.
RESPECT AND DINITY – The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of his personal dignity.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY – The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy, as manifested by the rights:
- To refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, but no directly involved in his care
- To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
- To be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of one’s own sex present during certain parts of a physical examination, treatment, or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex and the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
- To expect that any discussion or consultation involving his case will be conducting discreetly and that individuals not directly involved in his care will not be present without his permission.
- To have his medical record read only by individuals directly involved in his treatment or in the monitoring of its quality. Other individuals can only read his medical record on his written authorization or that of his legally authorized representative.
- To expect all communications and the records pertaining to his care, including the source of payment for treatment, to be treated as confidential.
- To request a transfer to another room if another patient or visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing him
- To be placed in a protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.
PERSONAL SAFETY – The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
IDENTITY – The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to him and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for his care. This includes the patient’s right to know of the existence of any professional relationship among individuals who are treating him, as well as the relationship to any other health care or educations institutions involved in his care. Participation by patients in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes should be voluntary.
INFORMATION – The patient has the right to obtain, from the practitioner responsible for coordinating his care, complete and current information concerning his diagnosis (to the degree of information known), treatment and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expect to understand When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to a legally authorized individual.
COMMUNICATION – The patient has the right of to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and verbal and written communication. When the patient does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community, he shall have access to an interpreter.
CONSENT – The patient has the right to reasonable informed participation in decisions involving his health care. To the degree possible, this should be based on a clear, concise explanation of his condition and all proposed technical procedures, including the possibilities of any risk of mortality or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation, and probability of success. The patient should not be subjected to any procedure without his voluntary, competent, and understanding consent or the consent of his legally authorized representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patent shall be so informed.
The patient has the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatment.
The patient shall be informed if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educations projects affecting his care or treatment, the patient has the right to refuse to participate in any such activity.
CONSULTATION – The patient, at his own request and expense, has the right to consult with a specialist.
REFUSAL OF TREATMENT – the patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment or his legally authorized representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
TRANSFER AND CONTINUITY OF CARE – A patient may not be transferred to another facility or organization unless he has received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternatives to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility or organization. The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner responsible for his care, or his delegate, of any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.
RESOLVING CONFLICTS – In situations where there are significant conflicts between the patient, patient’s family, or guardian, attending or consulting physician, or hospital staff, concerning the care of the patient, the Administrator shall be notified by appropriate Nursing Staff. The administrator shall attempt to mediate the situation by utilizing patient/family/staff conferences, securing second medical opinions, seeking input from neutral parties or other diplomatic means.
In all such cases the Administrator is empowered to exercise authority for the final approval of admission and discharge issues, while the attending physician retains the authority for all treatment decision for patients admitted to the hospital.
REGISTERING COMPLAINTS- Patients and their families or guardians have the right to present complaints concerning the quality of care that was provided. The patient/family member/guardian may verbally express their dissatisfaction to any staff member, but it is recommended that the complaint be place in writing. Any Nursing Staff member can provide the complainant with a form that can be utilized for registering complaints.
The complainant can expect that the complaint will be investigated and evaluated by appropriate management staff; that significant complaints will receive a written response from the facility, and that the filing of such a complaint will not affect their future access to care or level of care provided.
HOSPITAL CHARGES – Regardless of the source of payment for his care, the patient has the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of his total bill for services rendered in the hospital. The patient ahs the right to timely notice prior to termination of his eligibility for reimbursement by any third-party payer for the cost of his care.
PATIENT RESPONSIBITLITIES
PROVISION OF INFORMATION – A patient has the responsibility to provide, to the best of his knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matter relating to his health. He has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for reporting whether he clearly comprehends a contemplated course of actions and what is expected of him.
COMPLIANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS – A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for his care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care, implement the responsible practitioner’s orders, and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the hospital.
REFUSAL OF TREATMENT – The patient is responsible for his actions if he refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions.
HOSPITAL CHARGES – The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
HOSPITAL RULES AND REGULATIONS – The patient is responsible for the following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION – The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of the other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. The patent is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
*copies available upon request
| |
|