Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Because of our belief in the dignity and value of the person, Regional Medical Center reaffirms our mutual rights - yours as a patient and ours as providers of your healthcare.

The care a patient receives depends partially on the patient’s own behavior. Therefore, in addition to these rights, a patient has certain responsibilities as well. These responsibilities are presented in a spirit of mutual trust and respect.

Access to Services

Rights

access to treatment without regard to race, color, creed, culture, age, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or sources of payment for care.
to have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her own healthcare provider notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.
for necessary health services to the best of the hospital’s ability.
to considerate and respectful care including personal privacy in receipt of care.
to be free from unnecessary restraint or seclusion for purposes of discipline, convenience, punishment, retaliation, or coercion.
to reasonable response to any reasonable request made for services within the hospital capacity and to the extent permitted by law.
to assurance of reasonable safety within the facility.
to assessment and reassessment of pain by professional staff and be educated regarding current methods of pain relief and/or management.
to have all patient’s rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on behalf of the patient.

Responsibilities

to follow hospital policies and procedures.
to be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.
to be respectful of his/her personal property and that of other persons in the hospital.
to secure money and valuables by sending them home with family members or putting them in the hospital safe.
to keep appointments and to notify the hospital or healthcare provider when unable to do so.
to ensure that the financial obligations of the hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Information

Rights

to receive information from the healthcare provider about the illness, diagnoses, the course of treatment and the prospects for recovery, in terms that he/she can under- stand.
to knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating the patient’s care and the names and professional relationships of the healthcare providers who may provide consultation.
to as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as needed in order to give informed consent or to refuse the course of treatment to the extent authorized by law. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, alternate course of treatment, or non-treatment, and the risks involved in each, and to know the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
to know which hospital rules and policies apply to patient conduct.
to know if the hospital has relationships with outside parties such as educational institutions or other healthcare providers or insurers that may influence treatment and care.
to be informed of recommendation to refer or transfer and the risks, benefits, and alternatives associated with such referral or transfer, and of continued treatment until the receiving institution agrees to accept.
to be informed by the healthcare provider or specified delegate of the continuing healthcare requirements following discharge from the hospital.
to reasonable continuity of care and to know in advance the time and location of reappointment and the provider providing care.
to be advised if the hospital or the personal healthcare provider proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting the patient’s care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
to read or obtain a copy of their medical record upon signing an Authorization for Release of Patient-Identifiable Health Information authorization form.
to be informed on the grievance process and follow-up.
to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and upon request, to have the charges explained.

Responsibilities

to provide complete, accurate information concerning present complaints, past illnesses and hospitalizations, and other matters relating to his/her health.
to make it known whether he/she clearly comprehends the course of medical treatment and what is expected of him/her.
to report information related to unexpected changes in the patient’s condition to hospital staff.
to follow the treatment plan established by the healthcare provider, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the provider’s orders.

Medical Treatment Decision

Rights

to participate actively in decisions regarding his/her medical care.
to leave the hospital even against the advice of the healthcare provider.
to formulate advance directives and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives. Patients will be provided appropriate information and forms upon request.
to request the services of a specialist at their own expense.

Responsibilities

to express concerns regarding their ability to comply with the proposed treatment, in which case every effort will be made to meet specific needs and limitations.
for his/her actions when treatment is refused or healthcare provider orders are not followed.

Privacy

Rights

to confidential, discrete conduct of case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual.
to confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to care and stay in the hospital with only those designated by law, regulation, and policy or duly authorized as having a need to know.

Visitation

Rights

to receive visitors during hospital visiting hours 11:00 AM—8:30 PM. The hospital will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. The hospital will impose appropriate and reasonable restriction on visitation when visitation would interfere with the care of the patient and/or care of other patients. Examples include but are not limited to existing court orders restricting contact of which the hospital is aware; disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior of any kind; limitation on the number of visitors during a specific period of time; extraordinary protection because of a pandemic/infectious disease outbreak; patient/visitor risk of infection by patient/visitor; patient or another individual in a shared room need for privacy or rest; restricted areas include the Operating Room Recovery Areas within the OR Department.
subject to his/her consent, to receive the visitors whom he/she designates including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including same sex partner), another family member, or a friend and his/her right to deny or withdraw consent at any time.
to their preferences regarding visitation privileges for their visitors.

Responsibilities

to respectfully observe “Quiet Time” daily, from 12:30-1:30 PM for the benefit of their rest and recovery and that of other patients.