Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

You have the right to:

• Receive the healthcare you need regardless of your race, creed, age, color, beliefs, national origin, gender, sexual preference, religion, or disability.
• Be treated with dignity and respect in a safe environment free of threat and harm.
• Have qualified interpreter services available if you do not understand or speak English.
• Request assistance if you are vision and/or hearing impaired.
• Express your religious and cultural beliefs as long as the exercise of these beliefs does not harm others or interfere with the medical treatment or the rights of others.
• Sign an advances directive so your providers know what care you want if you should be near death and unable to communicate your wishes.
• Decide who can make decisions about your care and treatment if you aren't able to communicate your wishes.
• File a dispute or grievance for any issues like care or access that you haven't been able to resolve with your doctor or nurse. You can file a grievance by calling the Patient Assistance Coordinator at 272-2121 or the Department of Health.
• Speak to a member of the Ethics Committee when there are ethical issues about your care.
• Have a family member, representative, or physician notified when you are admitted to the hospital.
• Know the members of your healthcare team providing your care.
• Get information you can understand about what is thought to be wrong with you, and the risks, benefits, and choices of treatment.
• Participate with the treatment team in making decisions about your care and treatment.
• Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law.
• Get a second opinion.
• Get information about being transferred to another doctor at another hospital.
• Have your pain assessed, and treated.
• Be free from restraints unless they are necessary to keep you safe and when other less restrictive interventions have not worked.
• Get information about follow-up care when you are discharged.
• Choose whether or not to participate in a research project or experimental treatment.
• Look at your medical record and get copies.
• Have your medical record and health information kept private except when used for treatment, billing, or hospital business, or when required by law.
• Get an explanation of your bill and the services provided to you.
• Receive a copy of this Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

Patient Responsibilities

You have the responsibility to:

• Treat other patients, hospital staff and the property of others with respect.
• Give correct and complete information to your treatment team.
• Ask questions or request more information when you do not understand information or instructions.
• Follow your treatment plan, or tell your healthcare team member why you cannot follow it.
• Tell your doctor about any changes in your health.
• Cancel appointments you cannot keep.
• Follow hospital rules and regulations.
• Meet your financial obligations.
• Give your opinions and concerns in a helpful way to the right people, including your doctor, your nurse, or the Patient Assistance Coordinator.