Patient Rights and Responsibilities

It is the policy of Perry Memorial Hospital to recognize that patients have rights and responsibilities and that healthcare is a cooperative effort between the patient, physician and hospital staff.

PATIENT RIGHTS

Right to be informed – You have the right:

To complete and accurate information concerning medical care and procedures.
To be informed and participate in all decisions involving your health care program, including end-of-life decisions.
To receive information about pain and pain management.
To clear, concise explanation in understandable terms, of all proposed procedures; including the possibilities of any risks or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation and probability of success.
To education concerning diagnosis, treatment options, prognosis and discharge instructions.
To reasonable provision to meet the special needs related to physical, mental, visionary and hearing handicaps.
To an interpreter if there is a language barrier.
To know the identity of your physician and the professional status of all those providing service.
To information in your Medical Record.
To formulate an Advance Directive.
To have a healthcare surrogate when decisional capacity is not present.
To have prior notice of the termination of your eligibility for reimbursement of any third-party payer for the expense of the hospital care.
To have counseling from the hospital staff to help in obtaining financial assistance.
To examine and receive a detailed explanation of the total bill for service rendered in the hospital.

Ethical rights – You have the right:

To personal privacy and confidentiality of information.
To considerate care which respects your personal values and beliefs (cultural and religious).
To consideration of ethical issues that arise in the provision of care – access to the Ethics Committee.
To issue a formal grievance or complaint, contact the Patient Advocate at extension 2252 or Administration at extension 2293.

Right to treatment – You have the right:

To reasonable access of care and to prompt attention, especially in an emergency situation.
To refuse any drug, test, procedure or treatment to the extent permitted by law.
To appropriate assessment and management of pain.

Right to access – You have the right:

Of freedom from unwarranted restraints.
To leave regardless of physical or financial status except if at risk to self or others (as determined by a qualifying person). You will be requested to sign a release stating you are leaving against medical advice.
To access of people outside the hospital by means of visitors and the telephone.
To special consideration in visiting privileges for children, critically or terminally ill patients.
To be notified by your attending physician of impending discharge and to have consultation of the desirability of discharge.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

You have the responsibility for:

Provision of accurate information to include present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, advance directives and other matters relating to your health.
Reporting unexpected changes in your condition or problem(s).
Reporting the presence of pain to your physicians and nurses.
Participating in the development of a pain management plan and notifying staff if no relief of pain is experienced.
Complete and accurate third-party payer information.
Compliance with instruction from your physician.
Compliance with hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
Respect and consideration – rights of other patients, control of noise and distractions, and respect of the property of other persons of the hospital.
Payment of the hospital bills in a reasonable length of time, keeping the hospital advised of your ability to pay the bills, and furnishing insurance forms and information. Making arrangements with the hospital Business Office for a payment plan.