Patient Rights and Responsibilities

We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you are well-informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible. This hospital encourages respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual.

• While you are a patient in the hospital, your rights include the following:

Patient has the right to:

• Become informed of his/her rights as a patient, in writing, in advance of, or when discontinuing, the provision of care. The patient may appoint a representative in addition to the Power of Attorney for Healthcare (POA-HC) or designee to receive this information should he/she desire.
• Exercise these rights without regard to age, race, ethnicity, language, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural, socioeconomic status, educational or religious background or the source of payment for care.
• Considerate, dignified and respectful care, provided in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse, neglect, harassment and/or exploitation.
• Have his/her cultural ,psychosocial, spiritual, personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected. To assure these preferences are identified and communicated to staff, a discussion of these issues will occur during the initial encounter or assessment and are recorded in the medical record.
• Access protective and advocacy services or have these services accessed on the patient's behalf.
• Have access and accommodation for religious and spiritual needs 
• Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
• Remain free from seclusion or restraints of any form that are not medically necessary. Restraints may not be used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
• Knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating his/her car and the names and professional relationships of other physicians and healthcare providers who will see him/her.
• Information about the following to be provided to the patient or designee:
  • Outcomes of care, treatment, and services that the patient needs in order to participate in current and future health care decisions.
  • Unanticipated outcomes of the patient's care, treatment, and services that are sentinel events as defined by The Joint Commission. This information is provided by the licensed independent practitioner responsible for managing the patient's care, treatment, and services, or his or her designee.
• Give or withhold informed consent for medical treatment. This includes a discussion about potential benefits, risks, alternatives and side effects of the patient's proposed care, treatment and services; as well as the likelihood of achieving his/her goals; and any potential problems that may occur during recovery.
  • Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment, and the risks involved in each as well as the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
  • When a patients is unable to make decisions about his or her care, treatment, or services, GHS involves a designated decision maker in making these decisions. GHS can appoint the designee if one has not already be appointed.
• Obtain information on disclosure of protected health information, in accordance with federal, state and local law and regulation.  Access to medical records, including past and current records, in the form requested by the patient and within a reasonable time frame. 
• Formulate Advance Directives regarding his/her healthcare, and to have health system staff and practitioners who provide care in the health system comply with these directives (to the extent provided by state laws and regulations).
• Have a family member or representative of his/her choice notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital. The hospital allows a family member, friend, or other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of stay.
• Choose (or deny) support persons the patient wishes to be present unless the hospital places a reasonable restriction on their visits (or the number of visitors). Reasons for a restriction include:
  • The patient is undergoing a procedure, and his/her health care provider believes that it is in their best interest to limit visitation.
  • Visitation may interfere with the care of other patients. The patient or other patients need rest or privacy.
  • A visitor is disruptive or presents a safety threat to the patient, staff members or others.
  • The patient or a visitor is at risk of infection, or there is an infectious disease outbreak.
  • There is a court order limiting visitation.

• Have the patient’s personal physician or designee notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.
• Full consideration of privacy concerning his/her medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual involved in his/her healthcare.
• Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to his/her care and his/her stay in the hospital. His/her written permission will be obtained before his/her medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with his/her care except in circumstances outlined in hospital policy or in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
• Request amendments to his/ her health information in accordance with law and regulation.
• Receive information in a manner that he/she understands.  Communications with the patient will be effective and provided in a manner that facilitates understanding by the patient.  Written information provided will be appropriate to the age, understanding and the language of the patient.  As appropriate, communication specific to the vision, speech, hearing cognitive and language-impaired patient will be appropriate to the impairment.  Interpretive services provided as needed.
  • Access information contained in his/her medical record within a reasonable time frame.
  • Reasonable responses to any reasonable request he/she may make for service.
  • Leave the hospital even against the advice of his/her physician. If deemed mentally incompetent notification of patient’s desire will be made to POA-HC or surrogate.
  • Reasonable continuity of care.
  • Be advised of the Medicare’s grievance process, should he/she wish to communicate a concern regarding the quality of the care he/she receives or if he/she feels the determined discharge date is premature. Notification of the grievance process includes: whom to contact to file a grievance, and that he/she will be provided with written notice of the grievance determination that contains the name of the health system contact person, the steps taken on his/her behalf to investigate the grievance, the results of the grievance and the grievance completion date.
  • Be advised if health system/personal physician proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects. Refusal to participate or discontinuation of participation will not compromise the patient’s right to access care, treatment or services.
  • Full support and respect of all patient rights should the patient choose to participate in research, investigation and/or clinical trials. This includes the patient’s right to a full informed consent process as it relates to the research, investigation and/or clinical trial. All information provided to subjects will be contained in the medical record or research file, along with the consent form(s).
  • Be informed by his/her physician or a delegate of his/her physician of the continuing healthcare requirements following his/her discharge from the hospital.
  • Examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.
  • Know which health system rules and policies apply to his/her conduct while a patient.
  • Have their Advanced Directives (Power of Attorney for Health Care, Living Will or Do-Not-Resuscitate forms) followed if they are made available. If his/her advanced directives are not available and if they cannot speak for themselves, emergency life-sustaining treatment will be provided until the patient’s directions are known.
  • Be informed of unanticipated outcomes that occur as a result of the patient’s medical care.
  • Give or withhold authorization to produce or use recordings, films or other images of the patient for purposes other than their care.
  • Have the patient’s organ donation wishes honored.
  • Received care to make the patient as comfortable as possible at all stages of life, including end-of-life care.
  • Be involved, and have their designee involved, in their agreed plan of care, including the discharge plan, as well as health care decisions, such as the right to refuse care, treatment and services.
  • Have the right to contact the following, if they have a patient safety, quality of care concern, or grievance: 

1. Graham Health System, Attn:  Vice President of Quality, 210 W. Walnut, Canton, IL 61520, phone 309-647-5240 ext., email: [email protected]
2. Joint Commission Office of Quality and Patient Safety, One Renaissance Blvd, Oak Brook Terrace, IL 60181, phone 800-994-6610 or by visiting: www.jointcommission.org. Using the “Report a Patient Safety Event” in the “Action Center” on the homepage of the website, or by mail at Office of Quality and Patient Safety, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oak Brook Terrace, IL 60181
3. Medicare at Livanta LLC, BFCC-QIO, 10820 Guilford Road, Suite 202, Annapolis Junction, MD  20701-1105, Phone:  (888) 524-9900, (888) 985-8775 – TTY or electronically at https://livantaqio.com/en/beneficiary/quality_of_care by clicking on the “file complaint” link on the right hand of home screen and following the instructions.
4. The Illinois Department of Public Health for any patient safety or quality of care concerns at: Office of Health Care Regulation Central Complaint Registry 525 W.  Jefferson St., Ground Floor Springfield   IL  62761-0001 Fax Number: 217-524-8885, Email Address:  [email protected]  Central Complaint Registry Hotline – 800-252-4343 TTY for the Hearing Impaired Only – 800-547-0466 Available 24 hours a day – 7 days per week.
5. Complaints about durable medical equipment can be called to” 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) TY users can call 1-877-486-2048

Patient Responsibilities

The care a patient receives depends partially on the patient. Therefore, in addition to these rights, a patient, POA-HC or surrogate has certain responsibilities as well. These responsibilities should be presented to the patient in the spirit of mutual trust and respect. These responsibilities shall include, but not limited to:

• Providing accurate and complete information that facilitates their care, treatment, and services, which includes hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health.
• Reporting perceived risks in his/her care and unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner.
• Asking questions about the patient’s condition, treatments, procedures, clinical laboratory and other diagnostic test results.
• Asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about the patient’s care, treatment course, care decisions, or what they are expected to do.
• Immediately reporting any concerns or errors they may observe.
• Following the treatment plan established by his/her physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physician's orders.
• Keeping appointments and for notifying the health system or physician when he/she is unable to do so.
• Being responsible for his/her actions should he/she refuse treatment or not follow his/her physician's orders.
• Assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health system care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
• Giving accurate insurance information so that bills are processed correctly.
• Giving accurate and complete information when filling out an application for financial assistance.
• Following health system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures to support quality care for patients and a safe environment for all individuals in the hospital.
• Being considerate of the rights of other patients and health system personnel.
• Being respectful of his/her personal property and that of other persons in the health system.
• Supporting mutual consideration and respect by maintaining civil language and conduct in interactions with staff and licensed independent practitioners.
• Notifying healthcare providers if his/her pain continues or gets worse and working with them to develop a plan to manage his/her pain.
• Communicating to staff members right away if he/she thinks their rights have been violated.
• Following requests about the number of people who visit and the length of their visits.  Visitors should not be noisy, threatening or disruptive.
• Following the Tobacco-Free Environment Policy.  The use of tobacco products of any form, including electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, vaping devices and nicotine delivering devices, is NOT prohibited on GHS property.

REFERENCES

CMS Conditions of Participation 482.13
The Joint Commission Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual Chapter