POLICY:
The health care provided at Northern Hospital of Surry County is a cooperative collaborative effort between the patient, physicians and hospital staff. This institution recognizes the basic rights of human beings for expression, decision and action, as well as the individual's concern for personal dignity and human relationships. It is our desire to endeavor to assure that these rights are preserved for our patients.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The entire staff of Northern Hospital of Surry County, the physicians and members of the Board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring that each patient's rights and responsibilities are protected. Additionally, specific responsibilities are as follows:
Medical Staff
Members of the Medical Staff are responsible for providing the information and opportunity for patients and/or their responsible parties to participate as active members of the health care team.
Hospital Administration and Other Staff
Members of the Hospital Administrative Staff are responsible for creating the atmosphere within the facility that will enable the patient and/or responsible party to serve as the guiding force to the direction of care provided.
Board of Trustees
Members of the Board, through their oversight authority, are responsible for reviewing and approving policies/procedures and other mechanisms that empower active participation by patients or their responsible parties.
PATIENTS' RIGHTS:
ACCESS TO CARE
Patients have the right to impartial access to all available services and medically indicated treatments, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, sources of payment, or lack of ability to pay.
RESPECT AND DIGNITY
Patients have the right to considerate, respectful care with recognition of their personal dignity. Such respect includes announcing oneself when a member of the hospital staff enters a patient room and working to assure visual and auditory privacy for the patient.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Patients will be given a ìNotice of Privacyî. Patients have the right to confidentiality of all records and communications, written or oral, between patients and health care providers; except as authorized by the patient or as may be necessary to promote continuity of care, to facilitate, reimbursement on the patient's behalf, or to comply with the law. Additionally, if family/significant other(s) are to be included in the discussions of the patient's condition and care needs, the patient should be asked to designate who he/she wishes present or informed. Patients also have the right to personal privacy.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Patients have the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
IDENTITY
Patients have the right to know the identity, credentials, licensure, and professional qualifications, including certifications, of all personnel involved in his or her care through clear disclosure of the information on the hospital badge.
INFORMATION
Patients have the right to be informed of his or her health status, to be involved in the care planning and treatment (this includes pain management), and to be able to request and refuse treatment. Patients have the right to obtain from their physicians, in terms they can be reasonably expected to understand, complete current information concerning their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. When it is not deemed medically prudent to give such information to the patient, the information will be made available to the appropriate person acting for the patient. Patients have the right to access, upon request, all information contained in their medical record; except when such access is specifically restricted for medical reasons by the attending physician.
COMMUNICATION
Deaf patients and those who do not communicate in English, as well as blind and visually impaired patients who do not read print, have the right to have access, when and if reasonably possible, to an AT&T interpreter, to TDD, or "talking books/tapes" that provide needed information in an appropriate format.
CONSENT
Except for circumstance constituting life-threatening emergencies, patients have the right to receive from their physicians sufficient information for them to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Patients have the right to refuse to participate in research projects affecting their care or treatment.
CONSULTATION
Patients have the right, at their request, to assistance in obtaining consultation with other physicians.
REFUSAL OF TREATMENT
Patients have the right, to the extent permitted by the Patient Self-Determination Act and other laws, to refuse treatment and to be informed of the potential or possible consequences of this action.
ETHICAL ISSUES/CARE OF THE DYING
Patients have the right to be involved and actively participant in decisions that affect the extent and type of the care they will receive, and will have the opportunity to participate in ad hoc ethics committee discussions of their care options, if desired. For additional information, you may ask your nurse or caregiver. Patients also have the right to participate in questions of pain management and other decisions affecting care of the dying patient.
TRANSFER
Patients have the right to expect, within its capabilities, that NHSC will make reasonable response to requests for services. When medically appropriate, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she (or an appropriate person on his/her behalf) has received reasonable information concerning the needs 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.
CONTINUITY OF CARE
Patients have the right to be notified in advance of their impending discharge, to obtain at their own expense a second medical opinion on the appropriateness of discharge and, upon request, to have a person of the patient's choice notified reasonably in advance of the discharge. Upon discharge, patients will be informed by their physicians of their continuing health care requirements and the resources available for meeting those requirements.
HOSPITAL CHARGES
Patients have the right to examine and receive an explanation or clarification of their bill, regardless of the source of payment.
COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS
Patients, their families and the parents or legal guardians of the hospital pediatric population have the right to express their concerns regarding the quality of care being given, in a non-threatening and constructive atmosphere, without fear of compromised care now or in the future. Information on the hospital's mechanism for ensuring this right will be presented to the patient or his/her representative through a copy of the admission packet given during the admission process.
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS
Patients have the right to exercise any cultural and spiritual beliefs that are not violations of the law. The care of a patient shall include the psychosocial, spiritual and cultural values that influence the perceptions of illness.
FORMULATE ADVANCED DIRECTIVES
Patients have the right under State law to formulate advanced directives. Information regarding advanced directives will be given at the time of admission.
FREE FROM VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE OR HARASSMENT
Patients have the right to be free from abuse. While the patient is under the hospital's care and on its property, the hospital is responsible for ensuring the patient's health and safety and his or her physical, emotional, and psychological well being.
FREE FROM SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT
Patients have the right to be free from seclusion, physical restraints, and drugs that are used as a restraint that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION
Patients have the right to have a family member or representative of his/her choice, and his/her physician notified promptly of admission to the hospital.
PATIENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES:
PROVISION OF INFORMATION
Patients have the responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present condition, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to their health. Patients have the responsibility to report to the practitioner responsible for their care, any unexpected changes in their condition. Patients have the responsibility for reporting whether they clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected of them. Patients have the responsibility of informing their physicians any existing advance directives and for providing a copy of any and all current such documents as near to the time of admission as possible.
INSTRUCTIONS COMPLIANCE
Patients are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for their care. Patients are responsible for keeping appointments and, if they are unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner (or the hospital).
REFUSAL OF TREATMENT
Patients are responsible for their actions if they refuse services or medically indicated treatment or do not follow their practitioner's instructions.
HOSPITAL CHARGES
Patients are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of their health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
HOSPITAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
Patients are responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION
Patients are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. Patients are responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital. |
