For Patients

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to:

• Safe and respectful care by competent staff. They will honor your values and beliefs while offering services and treatment based on your medical condition, without consideration of race, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 
• Make decisions with your health care team regarding your medical care, including: 
  1. Complete current information about your medical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. 
  2. Information necessary to make treatment decisions that reflect your wishes.  You have a right to ask questions, to know why a treatment or procedure is needed, its risks, benefits,       and the alternatives. 
  3. A right to accept medical care based on informed consent or to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of such a refusal. 
  4. If you are a minor, the person legally responsible for you will take part in all treatment decisions. 
  5. When you are unable to take part in your care decisions, we will go to your next of kin or the person identified to make decisions for you. That person will be given the same rights as you would. 
  6. For public health and safety, hospitals are required to provide information regarding communicable diseases to federal and local agencies. 
  7. Receiving the right care for your condition. We will inform you if the hospital cannot provide you with the care you need and assist in finding/transferring you to another healthcare facility. 
  8. You can choose whether to be involved in research. 
  9. Know the names and roles of the people involved in your care and obtain the services of another healthcare provider or specialist for consultation. 
• Formulate advanced directives and appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law. 
• Pain control. You and your caregivers will set a goal for pain control, ensuring you are as comfortable as possible. 
• Personal privacy and confidentiality of information contained in your medical record, and concerning your medical condition and treatment within the limits of the law. The Notice of Privacy Practices explains how your health information may be used. 
• Access your health information, review your health record and your hospital bill.
• Access to interpretive services in a language you can understand.
• Safe surroundings and practices at HCMC, including the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment and the right to freedom from restraints or seclusion used in the provision of acute medical care or behavioral management unless clinically necessary.  
• Report a complaint or safety concern to any member of the Executive Team (CEO, COO, CNO, CFO, CDO) or the Compliance Officer. 
• File a formal grievance if you have a complaint that you feel was not resolved to your satisfaction.  You may request a grievance form from any staff member. 
• You may also file a complaint with the State Department of Health and Human Services, regardless of whether you choose to first use the hospital’s grievance process.  The state survey agency’s address is: 

You have the right to:

• Follow the rules and polices of HCMC. 
• Provide complete and accurate medical information. The hospital staff need to know your health history to care for you. This may include past health history, past illnesses, past hospitalizations, and current medications.
• Report changes in your health to your healthcare team. 
• Ask questions if you do not understand your diagnosis, medical treatment or instructions for follow-up care. 
• Be responsible for the cost of your care and treatment. Ensure your hospital bills are paid, provide current insurance information to file a bill. 
• Respect the rights, privacy and confidentiality of others. 

Copy of Patient Rights and Responsibilities