UNION HOSPITAL PATIENT/VISITOR INFORMATION

Patient Bill of Rights

All Patients Shall Have The Following Rights:

• The right to impartial access to care and treatment that is medically necessary, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap or ability to pay.


• The right to receive care which is compassionate, considerate, respectful, and sensitive to the patient' s personal values and belief system.


• The right to receive quality patient care in a safe manner and in a clean and safe environment.


• The right to clinical pastoral care services to assess and meet his/her spiritual needs.


• The right to consult with appropriate persons to resolve ethical dilemmas regarding care.


• The right to have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her physician notified in a timely manner of his/her admission to the hospital.


• The right to be free from physical or chemical restraints and/or seclusions of any form that are not medically necessary.


• The right to have his/her level of pain assessed and a plan designed to address pain control and management.


• The right to be fully informed in advance of the care or treatment proposed and to participate in the planning of his/her care and treatment.


• The right to consent to or refuse treatment after being provided sufficient information to make informed decisions about the proposed treatment, the benefits and risks of such proposed treatment, and the alternatives to such treatment.


• The right to receive information concerning his/her right to formulate advance directives.


• The right to designate a surrogate decision-maker who will have the right to exercise the patient' s rights when and if he/she is incapable of doing so to the extent permitted by law.


• The right to be informed of the reason for any proposed transfer within or outside of the facility and the alternatives to any such transfer.


• The right to personal privacy.


• The right to have his/her medical information and records kept confidential.


• The right to access his/her medical records in accordance with the applicable laws and hospital policy.


• The right to know the identity and professional status of any person involved in his/her care and the relationship of that person to the hospital.


• The right to know the reason for any proposed change in professional staff responsible for the patient's care.


• The right to be informed of and to either consent to or refuse to participate in any proposed experimental or research project without compromising his/her access to treatment or services.


• The right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her bills, regardless of the source of payment.


• The right to be informed of the source of the facility's reimbursement for his/her services, and of any limitations which may be placed upon his/her care.


• The right to receive information concerning the rights and responsibilities which are specific to the area of service which he/she is being treated; i.e., Medical Rehabilitation.


• The right to exercise his/her rights while receiving care or treatment without discrimination, harassment, abuse, coercion, or retaliation.

All Patients Shall Have the Following Responsibilities:

• The responsibility to supply accurate and complete information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to their care.


• The responsibility to timely notify the physician or nurse about any change in his/her condition.


• The responsibility to participate in his/her own health care by following instructions and medical advice and to accept the consequences if he/she chooses not to follow instructions or medical advice.


• The responsibility to ask questions if he/she does not understand directions and procedures, or if he/she is unable to follow them.


• The responsibility to cooperate with Union Hospital, Inc. staff and physicians in observing safety rules, regulations and policies.


• The responsibility to follow written rules and behaviors which are specific to the area on which he/she is being treated.


• The responsibility to respect others' property and that of Union Hospital, Inc.


• The responsibility to observe Union Hospital, Inc.'s ban on smoking except in designated areas.


• The responsibility to be considerate of other patients in limiting noise and the number of visitors.


• The responsibility to be considerate of Union Hospital, Inc. personnel who are involved in providing his/her health care.


• The responsibility to cooperate and assist in making discharge plans in a responsible and timely manner.


• The responsibility to timely report perceived risks he/she may have noted in the care received.


• The responsibility to participate in appropriate testing, including voluntarily providing blood or body fluid samples, in the event a medical services provider has been exposed to the patient's blood or body fluids during treatment.


• The responsibility to cooperate with arranging for timely payment for services rendered and to meet those financial obligations.

 

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