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Patient Rights and Responsibilities
As a patient at Faith Regional Health Services, we want you to be fully aware of your rights and responsibilities.We also want to assure you that Faith Regional Health Services personnel will observe these patient’s rights at all times.
You have the right to:
- Receive considerate, respectful care without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, the presence or absence of any communicable diseases, marital or veteran status or any other protected class under relevant Federal or State law.
- Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to your care and your stay in the hospital. You also have a right to review your medical record at any time. Your written permission will be obtained before your medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with your care.
- Receive respect for your preferences whether medical, spiritual, cultural or personal.
- Knowledge of the name of your physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating your care, and the names and professional relationships of any other physicians and health care providers who will treat you.
- Receive information from your physician about your illness, your plan of care and your prospects for recovery in terms that you can understand.
- Receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as you may need in order to give informed consent or to refuse the plan of treatment. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, an alternate plan of treatment or non-treatment and the risks involved in each, and to know the name of the person(s) who will perform any procedure or treatment.
- Actively participate in making decisions regarding your plan of medical care. You also have the right to be advised of the reason for the presence of any individual during your treatment.
- Be informed about pain and pain relief measures. You may request to have your pain assessed at any time and to have your pain addressed through the use of medication, positioning, relaxation, music or other methods.
- Voice a concern or file a grievance at any time and receive prompt resolution of that concern. Concerns or grievances may be filed by contacting your nurse, the hospital’s Organizational Improvement Department at (402) 371-4880, ext. 6422 or by contacting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, PO Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509-5164, (402) 471-0316.
- Be free from seclusion and restraint, in any form, unless your safety or the safety of others is in danger.
- Receive care in a safe, secure environment, free from verbal or physical abuse or harassment, as well as have access to protective services, including the right to notify government agencies of neglect or abuse. The provisions of law requiring the reporting and investigation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation are made a part of the regulations. The Abuse toll free hotline is 1-800-652-1999.
- Make advance directives—a Rights of the Terminally Ill Declaration (living will) and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care—that state your treatment choices if you ever are unable to speak for yourself.
- Leave the hospital at any time, even against the advice of your physician.
- Reasonable continuity of care and to know in advance the time and location of any appointments.
- Take part in experimental treatments or research, or to decline these treatments without negative effects to your hospitalization.
- Request a copy of your discharge plan.
- Be informed by your physician or a delegate of your physician of the need for continuing health care requirements following your discharge from the hospital.
- Know which hospital rules and policies apply to you while you are a patient.
- Designate visitors of your choosing, whether or not these visitors are related by blood or marriage, unless:
- Visitors are not allowed due to medical considerations.
- The facility reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, staff of Faith Regional Health Services. or other visitor to the health facility, or would significantly disrupt the operations of the facility.
- Have your wishes considered in determining who may visit you if you are unable to make that decision. At a minimum, the hospital shall include any persons living in your household when making this decision unless you have indicated to Faith Regional staff that you no longer want a person to visit
- Know the financial implications of your treatment choices and have your bill and available payment methods explained to you including services that may not be paid for by Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance providers.
If you have an emergency medical condition or are in labor, you have the right to receive, within the capabilities of Faith Regional Health Services staff and facilities, an appropriate medical screening examination, necessary stabilizing treatment (including treatment for an unborn child) and if necessary, an appropriate transfer to another facility even if you cannot pay or do not have medical insurance or you are not entitled to Medicare or Medicaid.
Along with your rights you have some responsibilities, which include:
- Participating in all planned therapy sessions to improve your condition.
- Providing accurate and complete information concerning your present condition, past illnesses and hospitalization(s) and other matters relating to your health.
- Making it known whether you clearly understand your plan of medical treatment, your role in the safe delivery of care and what is expected of you.
- Reporting your pain to your caregivers and helping to measure your pain by telling them about pain that won’t go away and what helps to relieve your pain. Please discuss your pain relief options with your doctor(s) and nurses.
- Following the treatment plan established by your physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health care professionals as they carry out the physician’s orders.
- Keeping appointments and notifying the hospital or physician when you are unable to do so.
- Accepting the consequences of your actions should you refuse treatment or not follow your physician’s orders.
- Following hospital policies and procedures.
- Being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.
- Being respectful of your personal property and that of other persons in the hospital. Faith Regional is not responsible for replacing missing or broken items.
- Assuring that arrangements for meeting the financial obligations of your hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
Advance Directives
Individuals usually make decisions regarding their healthcare treatment after their physicians recommend a course of treatment and provide information about it. These decisions may become more difficult, however, if a patient becomes unable to tell their doctors and loved ones what kind of healthcare treatment they want. Through documents, known as Advance Directives, individuals can express their treatment preferences before they actually need such care, ensuring that their wishes will be carried out and that their families and others will not be faced with making these difficult decisions.
Upon your arrival at Faith Regional Health Services, you will be informed about Advance Directives and given written information upon request. Resuscitation procedures and withholding of resuscitation will be in compliance with Federal Patient Self Determination Act, OBRA 199
Access to Your Medical Record
Upon request of the patient and/or legal guardian, he/she shall have access to his/her current medical record after signing a release with Health Information.The physician is the first to be notified prior to reviewing the record as he/she may want to be present at the time of the review.
A staff member is present during the patient and/or legal guardian’s review of the chart to maintain the completeness of the record and provide interpretation of the medical terms and/or abbreviations within the nurse’s educational preparation. It is the responsibility of the physician to interpret any reports or findings.
Ethics Corner Articles
Last Updated: 7/24/2006
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