We want you to think of yourself as a partner in your care. It’s important for patients to understand their rights as well as their responsibilities while a patient at our hospital.
Your Rights
You have the right to be informed of the patient’s rights in advance of receiving or discontinuing medical care whenever possible.
Respect and Dignity
You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
Consent, Refusal, and Treatment
You have the right to make decisions regarding your medical care, including being informed of your health status, involved in care planning and treatment, and being able to request or refuse treatment. This right must not be construed as a mechanism to demand the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary or inappropriate.
You have the right to formulate advance directives and appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law.
Privacy and Confidentiality
You have the right to personal privacy.
You have the right to the confidentiality of your personal health information within the limits of the law and may obtain a copy of the medical center’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
You have the right to access, request amendment to, and receive an accounting of disclosures regarding information contained in your clinical records within a reasonable time.
Personal Safety
You have the right to receive care in a safe setting.
Visitation
All competent patients have the right to choose who may visit them during their inpatient stay, regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, spouse, domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), or other type of visitor. Patients also have the right to withdraw such consent to visitation at any time.
Visitation privileges will not be denied on the basis of sex, race, color, gender, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
St. Francis can impose restrictions which may include but are not limited to:
- When medical staff are attending to the patient
- When there may be infection control issues
- When a visitor may interfere with the care of the patient
- When a visit is not in the best interest of the patient
Length of visit may be limited if behavior is disruptive out of consideration for other patients and staff.
Information and Communication
You have the right to complete and current information about your medical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. You also have the right to have this information presented to you in a language you can understand. If needed, the hospital will provide interpreter services or adaptive communication devices.
Continuity of Care
You have the right to be informed of any health care requirements you must follow after you have been discharged. You have the right to refuse transfer to another health care facility unless you have been given an explanation for the transfer and offered available alternatives.
Restraints
You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
Grievance
You have the right to file a grievance and to be informed of the process to review and resolve the grievance. The grievance process is described here.
Your Responsibilities
Communication
You have the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information concerning your present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
You have the responsibility to ask questions if you do not understand your diagnosis, medical treatment, or instructions for follow-up care.
You have the responsibility to speak up if you feel your safety or the quality of your care is at risk.
You have the responsibility to tell the people involved with your care if you are not satisfied at any time during your stay or visit.
Following Your Care Plan
You are responsible for following the treatment plan established by your physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physician’s orders.
You are responsible for expressing any concerns about your ability to follow the proposed treatment plan.
You are responsible for your actions and the outcomes of your care if you refuse treatment or do not follow your physician’s orders.
Rules, Regulations, and Directives
You are responsible for following all St. Francis rules and regulations including the Ethical and Religious Directives of Catholic Health Care Facilities. A copy of the Ethical and Religious Directives are available from the executive office upon request.
Courtesy and Respect
You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients, visitors, and all hospital personnel. You may not photograph or record in any manner another patient or hospital staff member without their prior consent. You are expected to be respectful of all hospital property and equipment.
Payment
You are responsible for ensuring your financial obligations resulting from your hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
For Parents or Guardians
Your Rights As a Parent or Guardian
If your child is hospitalized, you have the right to visit your child or call the nursing unit at any time.
You have the right to receive information needed to give the necessary consent for your child’s medical treatment and participate in developing your child’s care plan.
You have the right to refuse medical treatment for your child to the extent permitted by law. You also have the right to know how this refusal may affect your child’s medical condition.
Your Responsibilities As a Parent or Guardian
You have the responsibility to provide complete and accurate information about your health and your child’s.
As a parent, guardian, or responsible family member, you have the responsibility to be available to staff for consultation and decision making.
