1. A patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, given by competent personnel with the recognition of the patient's personal dignity.
2 . A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his/her attending physician, the names of all other physicians directly participating in his/her care, and functions of other health care persons having direct contact with the patient.
3. A patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are considered confidential and will be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in the patient's care must have his/her permission to be present.
4. A patient has the right to have all records pertaining to his/her medical care read only by those individuals directly involved in his/her treatment or the monitoring of its quality, and by other individuals only on the patient's written authorization or that of his/her legally authorized representative.
5. A patient has the right to know which hospital rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
6. A patient has the right to the hospital's reasonable response to his/her requests and needs for treatment
or service, within the hospital's capacity, its stated mission, and applicable law.
7. A patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician complete current information, in layman's terms, concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his/her behalf to the patient's next of kin or other appropriate person.
8. A patient has the right to participate in the decisions affecting his/her care and treatment, with the benefit of a clear concise explanation of his/her condition, proposed treatment and risks and consequences, and has the right not to be subjected to any procedure without his/her voluntary, informed consent, or that of his/her legal representative or next of kin, as appropriate.
9. Except in the case of emergencies, the physician will provide the information necessary to enable the patient or designated representative to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment.
10. A patient - or in the event that the patient is unable to give informed consent, a legally responsible party - has the right to be advised if Transylvania Community Hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient or legally responsible party may, at any time, refuse to continue in such a program to which he/she has previously given informed consent.
11. A patient has the right to formulate advance directives and appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law. The provision of care is not conditioned on the existence of an advance directive.
12. A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, procedures, or other medical treatment offered by the hospital to the extent permitted by law, and a physician shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of the patient's refusal of any drugs, treatment, or procedure.
13. A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient's request and own expense.
14. A patient has the right to access to medical and nursing services that are available or medically indicated without regard to race, color, creed, sexual preference, national origin, or source of payment for care.
15. A patient who does not speak English will have access, when possible, to an interpreter.
16. The hospital shall provide the patient or designated person, upon request, access to all information contained in the patient's medical records, as consistent with applicable law, unless access is specifically restricted by the attending physician for medical reasons.
17. When medically appropriate, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after the patient, next of kin, or other legally responsible representative has received a complete explanation concerning the need for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred
must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
18. A patient has the right to receive an itemized and detailed explanation of his/her bill, regardless of the sources for payment for the patient's care.
19. A patient has the right to full information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his/her health care.
20. The hospital will provide a mechanism whereby the patient is informed upon discharge of any continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
21. A patient will not be denied the right of access to an individual or agency who is authorized to act on his/her behalf or to assert or protect the rights of the patient.
22. A patient has the right to refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, including visitors or persons officially connected with the hospital but not directly involved in the patient's care.
23. A patient has the right to wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with the diagnostic procedures or other aspects of medical treatment.
24. A patient has the right to be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of his/her own sex present during parts of a physical examination, treatment or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex, and the right not to
remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
25. A patient has the right to request transfer to another room if another patient or a visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing him/her.
26. A patient has the right to expect reasonable safety with respect to hospital practices and environment. A patient has the right to be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.
27. A patient and his/her family or legal representative have the right to present complaints regarding the quality of care received, without compromising fixture access to care. Complaints can be registered through a phone call or letter to Administration, or on the "Help Us Help You" forms presented to the patient on admission. These forms are also located in the ER and front lobby of the hospital. This information will be forwarded to the appropriate departments, analyzed, and a response will be provided to each complaint.
28. A patient and his/her representative has the right to participate in consideration of ethical issues that may arise in his/her care.
29. The patient's designated representative has the right to exercise, to the extent permitted by law, the rights delineated on behalf of the patient if the patient has been judged to be incompetent in accordance with the law, is found by his/her physician to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment or procedure, is unable to communicate his/her wishes regarding treatment, or is a minor.
30. The patient has the right of access to people
outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communications, subject to reasonable limits imposed by patient care needs and the orderly operation of the hospital.
Newborns, Children, and Adolescents
1. The family/guardian of a newborn or other minor patient has both the right and responsibility to be involved in the patient's assessment, treatment, and continuing care, with the exception of minors seeking treatment for pregnancy, venereal disease, and other reportable diseases, abuse of controlled substances and alcohol, and emotional disturbance. The family/guardian of a minor seeking treatment for these conditions may not be notified of the treatment without the patient's consent, unless the physician believes that notification is essential to the minor's life or health, or the parent or other responsible adult contacts the physician concerning the treatment to be provided the minor.
2. The family/ guardian of a newborn or other minor patient has the right to be provided with support in dealing with illnesses that are particularly traumatic because of the duration, severity, or effect on the patient's physical or psychological development. Such support will be provided through the hospital's social workers and chaplain.
3. A newborn or other minor patient has the right to be afforded access to services through referral, consultation, or contractual agreement when such services are not available at the hospital.
4. A child or adolescent patient whose treatment necessitates a significant absence from school has the
right to appropriate educational services which will meet the patient's treatment needs and provide continuity in the educational process. The hospital will cooperate in the arrangement of such services with the assistance of the appropriate school district.
5. A newborn or other minor patient who is transferred from one setting to another (within the hospital or to another facility) has the right to have his/her need for continuing treatment, continuing education, and support for normal development assessed, documented, and communicated to the medical personnel in charge of the new setting.
6. When a newborn or other minor has a need identified beyond the scope of the hospital's resources, the patient has a right to a prompt transfer to an alternate facility providing such needed services, subject to the requirements of applicable law.
Patient Responsibilities
1. The patient has the responsibility to provide, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medication, and other matters relating to his/her health. He/she has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for reporting whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
2. The patient is responsible for being informed about his/her condition, treatment, and for making the health care provider aware of whether he/she
understands the contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
3 . The patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for his/her care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other health care professionals as they implement the physician's orders and as they enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the physician or the hospital. The patient is responsible for following instructions for continued care after he/she leaves the hospital.
4. The patient is responsible for the consequences of his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care practitioner's instructions.
5. The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled promptly. The patient is also responsible to provide the information needed to process his/her insurance.
6. The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, including limiting the number of visitors, controlling noise, and following smoking regulations. The patient is also responsible for respecting the property of other persons and the hospital.
7. The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
