Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

A PATIENT and their HEALTH CARE SURROGATE HAS THE RIGHT TO:

• Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his/her dignity, and with protection of privacy.
• Receive care in a safe setting by qualified staff.
• Be free of all abuse and harassment.
• Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
• Know who is providing medical services and is responsible for his/her care.
• Know what patient support services or ADA devices are available, including an interpreter.
• Know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct.
• Bring any person to the patient-accessible areas to accompany while receiving care or consulting with their health care provider, unless doing so would be a safety risk, or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider.
• Be given by the health care provider information such as diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
• Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
• Be given full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for care.
• Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if the patient is covered by Medicare.
• Receive prior to treatment, as a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
• Receive a copy of an understandable itemized bill and, if requested, to have the charges explained.
• Receive medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
• Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
• Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his/her consent or refusal to participate in such research.
• Voice complaints without reprisal.
• Express complaints regarding any violation of his/her rights.
• Right to choose or refuse a provider, and right to change providers if other qualified providers are available.
• Choose the facility to receive health care services.
• Be informed about the facilities advance directives policy which does not honor a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) request/directive. Patient will be administered life saving care and transferred to a higher level of care as required by prevailing laws and regulations.

Patient Responsibilities

A PATIENT and HEALTH CARE SURROGATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Giving the health care provider accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and any other information about his/her health.
• Reporting unexpected changes in his/her condition to the health care provider.
• Reporting to the health care provider whether he/she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him/her.
• Following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
• Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so, notifying the health care provider or facility.
• His/her actions if treatment is refused or if the patient does not follow the health care provider's instructions.
• Respecting the physicians and staff as appropriate.
• Making sure financial responsibilities are carried out.
• Following health care facilities conduct rules and regulations.
• Have a responsible adult to provide transportation, and remain with them as directed by the physician and/or discharge instructions.

Questions or Complaints

Do you have any Concerns or Complaints?

Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman (MBO)

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