PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Basic human rights for independence of expression, decision, action and concern for personal dignity and human relationships are always of great importance. During illness, these become a vital factor in survival and recovery. Therefore, Bucyrus Community Hospital considers the preservation of patient rights as one of its primary responsibilities.

PATIENT COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES
Bucyrus Community Hospital is a Joint Commission Accredited facility. If for any reason, you are dissatisfied with anything in the hospital, you may voice a complaint by giving it in writing or asking to speak with the employee in charge of the unit / department, to the Patient Care Coordinator, or a member of the Administrative Team. The complaint will, in turn, be passed on to the appropriate member of the Administration Team, where it will be reviewed / addressed. Action, when appropriate, will be taken and a response will be made to the person issuing the complaint in a timely manner. If you feel your concern was not adequately addressed, you may call the Ohio Department of Health at 1-800-669-3534 or The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610 or via e-mail at: complaint@jointcommission.org

PATIENT RIGHTS
Access to Care: You shall be accorded impartial access to accommodation and or treatment that are available, medically indicated, and environmentally secure, regardless of age, sex, religion, national origin, handicap, source of payment or financial status.

Respect and Dignity: You, at all times and under all circumstances, have the right to respectful care that recognizes your personal dignity and individuality while respecting your personal values and beliefs.

Freedom From Abuse: You have the right to be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse or harassment and to be treated at all times with courtesy, dignity, and respect.

Freedom from Restraint: You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary. These measures may not be used for coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.

Privacy and Confidentiality: You have the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy. You may refuse to talk with, or see, anyone not directly involved in your care. You will be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to having a person of oneas own gender present during certain parts of an examination, treatment or procedure performed by a health care provider of the opposite sex. You will not be disrobed any longer than necessary. You may expect any discussion or consultation involving your care to be conducted discreetly, and individuals not directly involved with your care will not be present without your permission. You may expect all communication pertaining to your care to be treated confidentially. You may wear appropriate personal clothing and other religious or symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.

Your Medical Record: You have the right to confidentiality regarding your medical record. Your medical record will be read only by individuals involved directly in your care or by other individuals that have written authorization from you or your legal representative. You have the right to access the information in your record within a reasonable time frame.
Patient Safety: Our goal is to ensure the highest quality of care in a safe environment.
Identity: You have the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing your service and to know which physician or practitioner is primarily responsible for your care. You will be addressed by employees in a respectful manner using a term(s) that you find satisfactory.

Communication: You have the right to easy access to people, both inside and outside the hospital by means of visitors, and written and verbal communication, as long as it does not interfere with your care or the care of other patients.

Refusal of Treatment: You may refuse treatment, to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment by yourself, or your legally authorized representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the professional relationship between the provider and patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
Consultation: You have the right, at your own request and expense, to consult with another physician or specialist.

Transfer and Continuity of Care: You may not be transferred to another facility unless you have received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer, of the alternatives to such a transfer and if the transfer is acceptable to the receiving facility. You have the right to be informed by the practitioner responsible for your care of any continuing health care requirement(s) following discharge from the hospital.

Information and Consent: You have the right to expect, from your practitioner, complete and current information, concerning your diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment options and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated to you in terms you can understand. You have the right to make decisions regarding your care, including the development of your plan of care. You will be included in the consideration of ethical issues regarding your care, the use or disuse of resuscitative services and / or life-sustaining treatment and participation in investigational studies / clinical trials. Participation in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes is voluntary.

Advance Directives : You have the right to determination of your care. Advance Directives (Living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare or legal aDo Not Resuscitate Orders) allow you to give instructions about your future health care. You may expect that your health care providers will provide care that is consistent with these directives.
Pain Management: You have the right to have your pain / discomfort relieved as completely as is possible. You and your family will be involved in assisting staff to effectively manage your level of pain / discomfort.

Hospital Rules and Regulations: You will be informed of the Hospitalas rules and regulations applicable to your conduct as a patient. This is done on orientation to the nursing unit / department.

Hospital Charges: Regardless of the source of payment for your care, you have the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of the total bill for services rendered in the hospital.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Healthcare is best when patients, their families, or representatives all participate in the care. By fulfilling these responsibilities, you can contribute to the effectiveness of your care.
Provision of Information: You have the responsibility to provide, to the best of your ability, accurate and complete information about your present complaint, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications and other matters pertaining to your health. You have the responsibility to report, to a health care practitioner, any changes in your condition. You have a responsibility to report to your health care providers, changes in the levels of your comfort / discomfort.

Compliance With Instructions: You are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by your practitioner. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other allied health professionals as they carry out your plan of care. If you do not understand the information provided or your plan of care, you are responsible for notifying your practitioner that you do not understand and for asking questions. You are responsible for keeping appointments and when unable to do so, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the hospital.

Refusal of Treatment: You are responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your practitioneras instructions.

Hospital Regulations: You are responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Respect and Consideration: You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and Hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise and the number of visitors. You are responsible for being respectful to the property of other persons and the hospital.

Advance Directives: You will need to provide the hospital with copies of Advance Directives if you have them so they can be followed in the event of a terminal illness or if you are unable to speak for yourself.

Hospital Charge s: You are responsible to be prompt to pay hospital bills, to ask questions concerning the bill and to provide the information necessary for insurance processing.