Patient Rights:

The following rights/responsibilities are also applicable to the patient representative (family, Health Care Representative, Power of Attorney, or legal guardian) when the patient is a minor or incompetent, to the extent permitted by law. The patient, or when appropriate, their representative or designee, has the right to:

• To considerate and respectful care with consideration of his psychosocial, spiritual and cultural variables. The dying patient has the right to special needs regarding emotional, physical and medical support during the final stages of life when his/her condition is terminal and death is eminent. The dying patient has a right to individual pain management to reach and optimal level of comfort.

• Be informed, in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care whenever possible.

• Make informed decisions regarding his/her care.   The patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis necessary to make informed decisions and actively participate in his/her plan of care.

• Have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her own physician notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.

• Formulate advance directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital and comply with these directives. The patient has the right to appoint a representative to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law. Advanced Directives shall be used in the planning and implementation of the patient's care.

• Receive from his physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent, should include but is not necessarily limited to the specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically significant alternatives for care or treatment that exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedures and/or treatment.

• Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her actions.

• Every consideration of his/her personal privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussions, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his/her care must have the permission of the patient to be present.

• Expect all communications and clinical records pertaining to his/her care should be treated as confidential except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health boards when reporting is permitted or requested by law.

• Access information contained in his/her clinical record within the time frames set forth in the Medical Records policy and procedures on "Release of Patients Medical Information".

• Expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.

• Expect that within its capacity a hospital must make reasonable response to the request of patient services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case.

• When medically permissible a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is being transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.

• Obtain information as to any relationship of his/her hospital to other health care and educational institutions insofar as his care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationship among individuals, by name who are treating him/her.

• Be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.

• Examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.

• Expect reasonable continuity of care and to be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge.

• Receive care in a safe and secure setting.

• Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.

• Informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care treatment and responsibilities.

• Be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives or other mechanisms available in the organization.

• The patient, or when appropriate, the patient's representative has the right to file a verbal or written dispute, grievance or conflict by contacting any employee, administrative staff member, or by contacting the Chief Quality Officer at 256-7660. (Refer to Patient Satisfaction Survey/Compliant policy). The initiation of a patient complaint/concern shall in no way effect their care or treatment.

• Be free from restraint/seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation. (Refer to policy and procedure on Restraint/Seclusion).

• To pain relief and to receive information about pain and pain relief measures.

• Expect unrestricted access to communication, i.e., visitors, mail, telephone, etc.   When such access is denied the patient has the right to and explanation for restrictions and to be included in such decision unless restricted by law.

• Expect communication in a language/manner that is understood.