Patient Rights and Responsibilities

To help in assuring that you receive the best care possible, we have listed the rights and responsibilities that you have as a patient.

These are:

• Respect and Dignity. You have the right to considerate and respectful care, which will be provided to you at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity.
• Privacy and Confidentiality. You have the right to privacy of your personal medical care programs. All communications and records pertaining to your care will be treated as confidential.
• Caregiver Identification. You have the right to know the identity and professional qualifications of individuals caring for you, and to know who is primarily responsible for your care.
• Information. You have the right to complete and accurate information about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis from your doctor. It will be communicated to you in a way that you can understand. You are responsible for providing your doctor with accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, demographics, and other matters relating to your health. You are encouraged to ask questions and to ask your doctor if you don't understand your care or treatment.
• Medical Records. You have the right to view the information contained in your hospital medical record.
• Consent. You have the right to participate in decisions involved in your health care. If alternatives for treatment exist, you will be informed of these alternatives. Advanced directives will be recognized. You are responsible for making your doctor aware of your wishes as expressed by these documents.
• Clinical Research. You have the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform clinical investigation affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
• Refusal of Treatment. You have the right to refuse treatment as permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.
• Continuity of Care. You have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care and advance notice of appointment times and physician availability. You are responsible for the treatment plans recommended by your doctor. If an appointment must be missed, you are responsible for notifying the doctor's office as soon as possible.
• Hospital Charges. You have the right to request and receive itemized and detailed explanations of the total charges for your hospital care. You are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations for your health care are fulfilled in a reasonable amount of time.