Patient Rights

A PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Pocahontas Community Hospital

A Patient’s Bill Of Rights and Responsibilities is given to the patient when they are admitted to the hospital.  The patient or their representative will be asked to sign a form stating the information was provided to them.

1. The patient has the right to receive kind considerate and respectful care.

2. The patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician or other practitioner complete current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms they can be reasonably expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate person in his behalf.  He/she has the right to know, by name, the physician or other practitioner responsible for coordinating his/her care.

3. The patient has the right to be involved and to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of their treatment.

4. The patient has the right to access of treatment regardless of age, race, creed, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, diagnosis, or source of payment for care.

5. The patient has the right to expect that a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her own physician or other practitioner be notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.

6. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her actions.

7. The patient has the right to receive from his/her physician or other practitioner information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and /or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include but may not necessarily be limited to the specific procedure and /or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of in incapacitation.  Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information.

8. The patient also has the right to know the name of the physician or other practitioner primarily responsible for their care as well as the name and professional status of others providing services to them in the hospital, as well as when those involved are students, residents, or other trainees.

9. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. He /she has the right to know, in advance, what appointment times and physicians &/or other healthcare practitioner are available and where. 

10. The patient has the right to preservation of individual dignity and protection of his/her privacy concerning his/her own medical care program, case discussion and consultation. Examinations and treatments are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his/her care must have permission of the patient to be present.

11. The patient has the right to expect that all communication and records pertaining to his care should be treated as confidential by the hospital except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law.

12. The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting, free from mental, physical, sexual, verbal abuse or harassment, neglect, corporal punishment, or exploitation.

13. The patient has the right to be free from chemical or physical restraints or seclusion imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.

14. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of his/her hospital to other health care and education institutions insofar as his/her care is concerned.

15. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals, by name who are treating him/her

16. The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity, a hospital must make a reasonable response to the request of a patient for services. The hospital must provide evaluation service and /or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, patient may be transferred to another facility only after he has received complete explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer.  The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.

17. The patient has the right to be advised that Pocahontas Community Hospital does not participate in human experimentation.

18. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby his/her physician or other practitioner will inform him/her of the patient’s continuing health care requirements following discharge.

19. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her clinical records and/or bill, regardless of the source of payment, in a reasonable time frame.

20. The patient has the right to request to consult with a specialist at his or her own expense.

21. Routine medical care and treatment will be provided to patients with their general consent signed at the time of admission and at all times under the medical direction of their attending physician or other attending practitioner or other responsible physician/other practitioner.

22. The patient has the right to formulate and execute advance directives. The care received by a patient will not rest on whether or not an advanced directive has been executed.

23. When a patient is determined not to be competent to make health care decisions, the hospital will seek direction concerning continued care from the patient’s family or advanced directive.

24. The patient has the right to express any concerns or complaints regarding his/her care or premature discharge and have them resolved in a timely manner to the satisfaction of all parties by notification of any healthcare team member who will notify the Chief Nursing Officer or CEO, &/or patient may notify QIO Livanta at 888-755-5580

25. The patient has the right to receive visitors whom they designate, including, but not limited to a spouse, a domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner) another family member, support person, lay caregiver, or friend. The hospital will not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. The patient has the right to withdraw or deny such visitation consent at any time.  In the event of clinical or legal restrictions an explanation will be provided to the patient or representative. 

26. The patient has the right to receive a copy of their medical record in either an electronic or paper form within 48 hours of the request during business days.

27. The patient has the right to have language interpreters available at no cost to them. If a patient has vision, speech, hearing, language or cognitive impairments, Pocahontas Community Hospital will address those needs.

Patients Responsibilities

1. To provide accurate and complete information regarding their health status.
2. To follow the recommended treatment plan.
3. To abide by hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
4. To be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.
5. To fulfill the financial obligations to the hospital as soon as possible following discharge

All rights and responsibilities of the patient move to the patient’s next of kin, guardian or sponsoring agency when the patient is adjudicated incompetent pursuant to the law, or is incapable of understanding these rights due to impairment specified in the patient’s record by a physician or Qualified Mental Retardation Professional.

These statements contain the general rights of each patient and are not all-inclusive.  Specific provisions implementing these general rights are included in this facilities policies and procedures.  If you have concerns or questions about your rights as a patient, please ask your physician or nurse for assistance in understanding the rights and how they apply to your hospital stay. If you have any concerns or complaints please have the hospital staff contact the Director of Nursing or the Hospital Administrator.