Patient Rights and Responsibilities:

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Be treated with dignity and respect.

• Fair treatment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or source of funding for care.

• Make informed decisions regarding your health care.

• Refuse treatment and be informed of the consequences.

• Be informed about the outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes.

• Know the names of all caregivers participating in your health care, and to know which provider is coordinating your care.

• Information in a language that you can understand.

• Know all about treatment choices regardless of cost or coverage by a benefit plan.

• Information contained in your medical record.

• Confidentiality in regard to your records and communication.

• An explanation of the need for a transfer to another facility, and of the alternatives to such a transfer.

• Voice complaints and to be informed of the mechanism to do so.

• Be informed at the start of services and periodically thereafter of rights and procedures for reporting abuse, and to have these rights readily accessible to you and made available to your guardian and any representative designated by you.

• Receive visitors, phone calls, mail, and other forms of communication in accordance with your healthcare needs.

• Examine your bill and have it explained, regardless of the source of payment.

• Appropriate assessment and management of pain.

• Receive care in a safe environment, free from abuse or harassment, and access to protective services if needed.

• Keep personal possessions and have access to adequate private storage, physical exercise, nutritious food, and provisions for special diets, newspapers, books, television and radio.

• Be free from restraints unless required for medical treatment or patient safety. (If you have any questions, please speak to your nurse or physician.)

• Respect for spiritual beliefs.

• Participate—and to involve the participation of responsible others—in decisions to limit or restrict any of these rights based on therapeutic or practical reasons. (Clinically responsible staff will review any limitation for therapeutic effectiveness at least every three days.)

As a patient, you have the responsibility to:

• Give accurate information regarding your medical history.

• Notify your caregiver of any unexpected changes relating to your health.

• Actively participate in decisions regarding your health care.

• Ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told, or what you are expected to do.

• Follow the treatment plan as agreed upon by you and your caregiver.

• Inform your caregiver if you do not intend to follow your treatment plan.

• Be accountable for the outcome if you or your family refuses treatment or fails to properly follow instructions.

• Respect the rights of others and observe the rules of common courtesy.

• Promptly meet any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital (this applies to patients and their families).