Patient Bill of Rights
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 health care. Among these are:
Access to Care
Individuals shall be accorded:
- Impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, diagnosis, or sources of payment for care.
Respect and Dignity
The patient has the right to:
- Considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of personal dignity.
- Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
Privacy and Confidentiality
The patient has the right to:
- Full consideration of privacy concerning his or her medical program and receipt of care.
- Confidentiality of his or her clinical records and to access information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame.
Personal Safety
The patient has the right to:
- Expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
Information
The patient or his/her representative has the right to:
- Receive information from the physician about his or her illness, course of treatment, and prospects for recovery in terms he or she can understand.
- Make informed decisions regarding his or her care.
- Be informed of his or her health status.
- Be involved in care, planning, and treatment, unless medically contraindicated.
Communication
The patient has the right:
- Of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors, and by verbal and written communication. When the patient does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community, access to an interpreter should be provided.
- To have a family member or representative of his or her choice notified promptly of his or her admission to the hospital.
Consent
The patient has the right to:
- Receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as needed in order to give an informed consent or to refuse the course of treatment.
- Know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatments.
- Be informed if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform research affecting care or treatment and has the right to refuse such participation.
Consultation
The patient has the right:
- At his or her own request, to consult with a specialist.
Refusal of Treatment
The patient or his/her representative has the right to:
- Request/refuse treatment.
- Should care deemed appropriate by ethical and professional standard be refused, the hospital's relationship with the patient may be terminated by transfer or discharge with reasonable notice.
Advanced Directives
The patient or his/her representative has the right to:
- Formulate Advanced Directives and have the hospital staff and practitioners provide care in the hospital to comply with these directives.
Transfer and Continuity of Care
The patient:
- May not be transferred to another facility unless receiving a complete explanation of the need for and alternatives to such a transfer, and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility.
- Has the right to be informed of any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.
Hospital Charges
The patient has a right to:
- Request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of the total bill, regardless of the source of payment, for services rendered in the hospital.
- Be informed that some insurance carriers and third-party payers do not cover all medical and hospital services.
Hospital Rules and Regulations
The patient:
- Should be informed of all hospital rules and regulations applicable to his/her conduct as a patient.
- Is entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints.
Complaint Procedure
The patient or his/her representative:
- Shall voice complaint to the supervisor of the department. The supervisor shall notify the manager and Vice President. Within one week, manager or Vice President shall give the patient a response.
- If unable to resolve conflict, the complaint shall be taken to the Operations Manager Committee or Leadership Team for further review.
- A grievance resolution shall be written and kept by hospital with decision that includes name of contact person, steps taken to investigate the grievance, the results of the grievance process, and the date of completion.
Patients Responsibilities
The patient has the following responsibilities:
- To follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
- To provide a complete and accurate medical history to the best of their knowledge.
- To make it known whether a proposed course of treatment is understood and whether those things the patient is expected to do are understood.
- To follow the recommendations and advice prescribed. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or hospital.
- To provide information about unexpected complications.
- To be considerate of the rights of the patient, hospital personnel, and hospital property.
- To provide accurate and timely information about sources of payment and ability to meet financial obligations.