What are your rights and responsibilities?

You, as a patient of our facility, have the following rights and duties, which will ensure that your treatment and care best meet your needs. We have the obligation and privilege to protect and promote the rights of the people we serve. These rights and responsibilities include:

The Right to:

Reasonable access to care regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or handicap.

Care that considers and respects your personal beliefs and values.

Security, personal privacy and confidentiality of information

Be involved in all aspects of your care to involve your family to the extent you desire.

Be informed about and participate in the resolution of ethical issues that arise in the course of your care without fear of being refused care for having done so.

Select someone to make decisions about your care should you no longer be able to do so (Health Care Power of Attorney.) To make advanced directives (Living Will.)

Access protective services if the need arises.

A reasonable, timely response to requests for service.

receive an estimate of the costs of treatment, and itemized bill after discharge and a clear understanding of your responsibilities for payment and any special payment arrangements.

Receive care from trained staff. To know the identity of the staff who care for you.

Refuse or discontinue treatment. If you choose to refuse care your physician will discuss the possible effects of that decision.

Be informed of possible experimental treatments/medications available for you and to choose whether or not to receive them.

Not be transferred to another facility unless the reasons are explained and you agree to the plan.

Understand that all patients have a right to pain relief, to receive information about pain and pain management techniques.

A concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management.

Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain.

Be informed of the hospital's grievance process and whom to contact to file a grievance.

Have a family member or representative of his or her choice and his or her own physician notified promptly of his or her admission.

Access information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame.

Be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.

Be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.

The Responsibility to:

Provide accurate, complete information about your present health condition and any changes in your status.

Follow the plan for your care that you help to create. Keep your appointments. Aks questions.

Be considerate of the needs and rights of others including noise, smoking and visitor control and follow the rules of the hospital.

Accept the responsibility for outcomes should you refuse treatment.

Tell us when you see areas where we can improve our service to you.

Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain management.

Work with your doctor and nurse to establish a goal for pain relief and develop and implement a pain management plan.

Ask for pain relief when pain first begins.

Help the doctor and nurse measure your pain.

Tell the doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved.