Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
Patients/surrogate decisions makers (parent, legal guardian, person with medical power of attorney) may exercise the following rights while receiving care or treatment in the facility without coercion, discrimination, or retaliation. Each patient, or when appropriate the patient’s representative (as allowed under Missouri law), will be informed of the patient’s rights in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care whenever possible.
A Patient has a right to:
1. Impartial access to care, regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or handicap;
2. Receive a complete explanation of the need for transfer either within or outside the facility and to be informed of the alternatives to such a transfer. The facility to which the patient is transferred must agree to the admission prior to the transfer.
3. Considerate and respectful care;
4. Personal privacy and confidentiality of information within the limits of the law;
Access information contained in his/her clinical records and request an amendment to records if he/she believes information has been misrepresented; Request that pre-admission and post-discharge communications be done at an alternative phone number or address; Request and receive a list of certain disclosures of personal health information made in accordance with Missouri and Federal laws.
5. Receive care in a safe setting in an environment free from safety hazards;
6. Know the identity and professional status of any person providing patient care and to know which practitioner is primarily responsible for his/her care; Know of any professional relationship among individuals who are treating him/her, as well as, the relationship to any other healthcare or educational institutions involved in his/her care; Know the reasons for any proposed changes in the professional staff responsible for his/her care;
7. Obtain from his/her physician complete information about his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and to be fully informed in advance of care or treatment, as well as, to actively participate in the planning of his/her care; Have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her own physician notified promptly of the patient’s admission to the hospital;
8. Access to communicate to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication. The hospital will provide an interpreter if the patient is not fluent in English. The facility will provide access to auxiliary aids if the patient is hearing speech, or visually impaired.
9. Participate in informed decision-making; the patient has the right to consent or refuse treatment after being adequately informed of the benefits and risks of the proposed treatment and the alternatives to the proposed treatment; the patient’s family has the right of informed consent of donation of organs and tissues. The family will be treated with discretion regarding their values and beliefs regarding organ and tissue donation.
10. Be fully informed of and to consent or refuse to participate in any unusual, experimental or research project without compromising his/her access to services;
11. Request consultations, second opinions, or the changing of a physician; this may be at the patient’s own expense.
12. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law; Patient’s have the right to leave “against medical advise,” however, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
13. Request and receive an itemized statement of services rendered within a reasonable period of time; The patient has a right to be informed of the source of the facility’s reimbursement for his/her services, and of any limitations that may be placed upon his/her care;
14. Be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to patient conduct. Patients are entitled to information about the mechanisms for the initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints/grievances.
15. Participate in the consideration of ethical issues including conflict resolution, withholding resuscitative services, and foregoing or withdrawing life sustaining treatment.
16. Designate a surrogate decision maker (durable power of attorney for healthcare) in case the patient is incapable of understanding a proposed treatment or procedure or is unable to communicate his/her wishes regarding care.
17. Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment; The patient has a right to access to protective services (guardianship, advocacy services, conservatorship, child and adult protective services, state licensure office, state ombudsman program, and the Medicaid fraud control unit.
18. Be free from unnecessary use of physical or chemical restraint and/or seclusion;
19. Exercise advance directive regarding decisions at the end of life in accordance with the Federal and Missouri State Patient Self Determination Act;
20. Have pain treated as effectively as possible.
A Patient has a responsibility:
1. To provide accurate information about your present condition and past medical history;
2. Adhere to your prescribed treatment plan and instructions;
3. Accept responsibility for refusing treatment;
4. Fulfillment of financial obligations;
5. Observe facility rules and regulations; The patient, family, and visitors will respect Ozarks Community’s tobacco free policy by refraining from the use of such products (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, and smokeless tobacco) while on owned or leased Ozarks Community Hospital properties or buildings.
6. Recognize the rights of other patients and families;
7. To adhere to the facility policy for conflict resolution regarding determining the patient’s wishes and decision making;
8. To discuss pain relief options and work with healthcare staff to develop a pain management plan;
9. To acknowledge that you have received the facility’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
Revised 4/9/2010
