It is the policy of Perry Memorial Hospital to recognize that patients have rights and responsibilities and that healthcare is a cooperative effort between the patient, physician and hospital staff.

PATIENT RIGHTS

Right to be informed – You have the right:

• To complete and accurate information concerning medical care and procedures
• To be informed and participate in all decisions involving your healthcare program, including end-of-life decisions
• To receive information about pain and pain management
• To clear, concise explanation in understandable terms of all proposed procedures, including the possibilities of any risks or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation and probability of success
• To education concerning diagnosis, treatment options, prognosis and discharge instructions
• To reasonable provision to meet the special needs related to physical, mental, visionary and hearing handicaps
• To an interpreter if there is a language barrier
• To know the identity of your physician and the professional status of all those providing service
• To information in your Medical Record
• To formulate an Advance Directive
• To have a healthcare surrogate when decisional capacity is not present
• To have prior notice of the termination of your eligibility for reimbursement of any third-party payer for the expense of the hospital care
• To have counseling from the hospital staff to help in obtaining financial assistance
• To examine and receive a detailed explanation of the total bill for service rendered in the hospital

Ethical rights – You have the right:

• To personal privacy and confidentiality of information
• To considerate care which respects your personal values and beliefs (cultural and religious)
• To consideration of ethical issues that arise in the provision of care – access to the Ethics Committee
• To issue a formal grievance or complaint, contact the Patient Advocate at extension 2252 or Administration at extension 4433

Right to treatment – You have the right:

• To reasonable access of care and to prompt attention, especially in an emergency situation
• To refuse any drug, test, procedure or treatment to the extent permitted by law
• To appropriate assessment and management of pain

Right to access – You have the right:

• Of freedom from unwarranted restraints
• To leave regardless of physical or financial status except if at risk to self or others (as determined by a qualifying person)
  
  You will be requested to sign a release stating you are leaving against medical advice

• To access of people outside the hospital by means of visitors and the telephone
• To special consideration in visiting privileges for children, critically or terminally ill patients
• To be notified by your attending physician of impending discharge and to have consultation of the desirability of discharge

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

You have the responsibility for:

• Provision of accurate information to include present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, advance directives and other matters relating to your health
• Reporting unexpected changes in your condition or problem(s)
• Reporting the presence of pain to your physicians and nurses
• Participating in the development of a pain management plan and notifying staff if no relief of pain is experienced
• Complete and accurate third-party payer information
• Compliance with instruction from your physician
• Compliance with hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct
• Respect and consideration – rights of other patients, control of noise and distractions, and respect of the property of other persons of the hospital
• Payment of the hospital bills in a reasonable length of time, keeping the hospital advised of your ability to pay the bills, and furnishing insurance forms and information. Making arrangements with the hospital Business Office for a payment plan.