1.         Rights

a)                 The right to treatment regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, newborn status, handicap or source of payment;

b)                 The right to emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay;

c)                  The right to formulate an advance directive, if age 18 and of sound mind;

d)                 The right to prompt notification of a family member or representative as well as the patient’s personal physician;

e)                 The right to foreign language or American sign language interpreters for patients with limited English proficiency or who are deaf; the right to access adaptive equipment including TDD and aides for the visually impaired (without charge);

f)                    The right to complete information on your condition, treatment plan, and prognosis;

g)                 The right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to you, and which physician is primarily responsible for your care;

h)                  The right to inspect your medical records and an opportunity to obtain copies within a reasonable time frame and at a reasonable cost;

i)                    The right to request that your record be amended or corrected if inaccurate or incomplete;

j)                    The right to revoke an authorization for release of information;

k)                  The right to restrict who will get information (i.e., family member(s), etc.);

l)                    The right to limit access for research purposes to your medical record;

m)               The right to privacy, confidentiality, and the assurance that details of the patient’s condition and treatment will not be disclosed at any time except to those entitled to receive the information.  Information contained in the medical record will not be shown or released to anyone not affiliated with The Richland Hospital, Inc. without written permission, unless under court order or other legal mandate;

n)                  The right to receive written notice describing how medical information about the patient may be disclosed and how the patient can get access to this information;

o)                 The right to be informed of your health status, to be involved in care planning and treatment, to participate in health care decisions and the right not to be subject to treatment without consent; information given should include condition, intended procedures or treatment, treatment alternatives, treatment risks and side effects, consequences of failure to treat the condition, and probability of success;

p)                 The right of refusal of treatment; the physician must inform the patient of the consequences of refusal.  The patient is responsible for their actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow the provider’s instructions;

q)                 The right to respectful, courteous treatment and to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment;

r)                   The right to care that recognizes the patient’s psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs and the opportunity to exercise cultural or spiritual beliefs that do not harm others or interfere with medical treatment;

s)                  The right to receive care in a safe setting;

t)                    The right to refuse experimental treatment and participation in research;

u)                  The right to be informed of Hospital policies and procedures affecting patient care and conduct;

v)                  The right to a copy of the Hospital bill showing charges for each service received and an explanation of the bill if desired;

w)                The right to make a complaint regarding care received and information on the Hospital’s policies and procedures for initiating the process;

x)                  The right to optimal comfort and dignity, including treatment of primary and secondary symptoms that respond to treatment;

y)                  The right to enter into and participate in a conflict resolution process should a situation or situations arise where there is a conflict concerning the care of the patient, up to and including referral to the Ethics Committee for consultation and recommendation;

z)                  The right to be free from seclusion or restraint unless clinically or forensically indicated.

aa)             Pain can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life and healing processes.  Regardless of the diagnosis, every patient has the right to frequent pain assessments and prompt treatment of their pain.

In addition, if the patient is a Medicare beneficiary, they have the right to file an appeal with the Peer Review Organization if they feel they are being discharged too soon.

Children in the Hospital have the right to:

a)                 Have a parent or parent substitute stay with them, except in certain areas such as the operating room, or during certain procedures, as determined by their caregivers;

b)                 The opportunity for access to play, recreation and education suited to their age, developmental level and condition, and a safe environment suited to their needs;

c)                  Care responsive to the physical, emotional and developmental needs of children and families.

2.                  Patient Responsibilities

Just as the Hospital has the above responsibilities to the patient, each patient has the responsibility for:

a)                 Following the Hospital rules and regulations;

b)                 Respecting the rights of other patients, families, visitors and staff;

c)                  Providing accurate and complete information about matters pertaining to their health care;

d)                 Asking the medical or nursing staff for more information if the nature of the illness or intended course of action is not understood or unclear;

e)                 Cooperating with caregivers to implement their treatment plan;

f)                    Reporting any changes in their condition during their Hospital stay or after discharge;

g)                 Providing The Richland Hospital with accurate health insurance information and/or making other appropriate arrangements for reimbursement of services rendered.