Patient Rights

• You have the right to considerate and respectful care.  This care will not change because of your race, color, religion, national origin, gender or age.
• You have the right to have your illness, treatments, and likely outcomes explained and to discuss options and alternatives with your healthcare provider.
• You have the right to know the names and roles or the people providing your care and treatment.
• You have the right to consent to or to refuse a treatment or plan of care, as permitted by law and hospital policy, and to be informed of the risks.  If you refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care, you will receive other needed and available care.
• You have the right to have an Advance Directive such as a living will or healthcare proxy.  These documents express your choices about future care or name someone to follow your choices if you are unable to speak for yourself.  If you have a written Advance Directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your healthcare provider and your family.
• You have the right to express your spiritual beliefs and to receive care that supports your cultural and religious practices.
• You have the right to every consideration of privacy.  The hospital, your healthcare provider and other caregivers will conduct care and treatment so as to protect your privacy.
• You have the right to expect your hospital records to be confidential unless you have given permission to release information.   The hospital may release your records to others when you transfer to another physician facility, or to an insurer, or when otherwise required or permitted by law.   Confidentiality will be emphasized.
• You have the right to be treated with dignity, respect and courtesy.  The hospital provides a mechanism for resolution of quality of care issues and for you to participate in the consideration of an ethical question that may arise in the provision of your care.  You, a family member, or a spokesperson may ask a member of the healthcare team or the Patient Services Advocate to help you with these questions or concerns.
• You have the right to review your medical record that pertains to your medical care and to have information explained, except when restricted by law.
• You have the right to expect that the hospital will provide you with appropriate and medically indicated care and services to the best of its ability.  You have the right to an evaluation of your medical condition and/or referral to another healthcare provider of facility.  When indicated by your medical condition, you will be discharged or transferred to another facility.   You will be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives.  You will not be transferred until another facility agrees to accept you.
• You have the right to be informed if this hospital has relationships with other hospitals, educational institutions, other healthcare providers, or payers that may influence your treatment and care.
• You have the right to consent to or refuse to take part in research affecting your care or treatment.  If you choose to refuse, you will receive all other medically indicated care.
• You have the right to be told when hospital care is no longer appropriate and what alternatives and options are available.
• You have the right to be informed of the hospital charges for service and available payment methods.

Responsibilities

• You are responsible for providing information about your present and past illnesses and medication use.
• You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand or are unable to follow through with treatments.
• You and your visitors are responsible for being considerate to to other patients, staff and the hospital.
• You are responsible for providing information for insurance purposes and working with the hospital to arrange payments when needed.
• Your health depends on the choices you make in your daily life and in partnership with your healthcare providers and the hospital.

The rights and responsibilities previously listed may be limited or temporarily suspended in a medical emergency to the extent a healthcare provider indicated valid medical reason in the patient's medical record, or to the extent required to preserve the rights of other patients in the hospital.