It is our goal to provide medical care that is effective and considerate; we submit these to you as a statement of our policy.
A Statement of the Patient’s Rights
1. A patient has the right to respectful care given by competent personnel, which reflects consideration of personal value and belief systems and which optimizes a patient’s comfort and dignity.
2. A patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
3. A patient has the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
4. A patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
5. A patient has the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the hospital, considering effective use of his/her time and to avoid personal discomfort.
6. A patient has the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, handicap, national origin, or source of payment.
7. A patient has the right, in collaboration with his/her physician, to make decisions involving his/her health care.
8. A patient has the right to make decisions regarding the withholding of resuscitative services or the forgoing of or the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment within the limits of the law and policies of this institution.
9. A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his/her attending physician, the names of all other physicians or practitioners directly participating in his/her care and the names and professional status of other health care personnel, including medical students, residents, or other trainees having direct contact with the patient.
10. A patient has the right to every consideration of privacy concerning his/her medical care program. Care discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are considered confidential and should be conducted discreetly, giving reasonable visual and auditory privacy when possible. This includes the right, if requested, to have someone present while a physical examination, treatment, or procedure is being performed, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatments, and to request a room transfer if another patient or visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing the patient and another room equally suitable for his/her needs is available.
11. A patient has the right to have all information, including records, pertaining to his/her medical care, treated as confidential, except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
12. A patient has the right to have his/her medical records read only by individuals directly involved in his/her care, by individuals monitoring the quality of his/her care, or by individuals authorized by law or regulation. The hospital shall provide the patient, upon request, access to all information, unless access is specifically restricted by the attending physician for medical reasons.
13. A patient has the right to be communicated with in a manner that is clear, concise and understandable. If a patient does not speak English, he/she should have access, where possible, to an interpreter.
14. A patient has the right to full information in layman’s terms, concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable that such information be given to the patient, the information shall be given on his/her behalf to the designated/legal representative.
15. Except for emergencies, the physician must obtain any necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment.
16. A patient has the right not to be involved in any experimental research, donor program or educational activities unless the patient or designated/legal representative has given informed consent prior to the actual participation in such a program. The patient or designated/legal representative may, at any time, refuse to continue in any such program to which informed consent has previously been given.
17. A patient has the right not to accept medical care or to refuse any drugs, treatment or procedure offered by the hospital, to the extent permitted by law, and a physician shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of such refusal.
18. A patient has the right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues surrounding his/her care, within the framework established by Easton Hospital to consider such issues.
19. A patient has the right to formulate an “advance directive”, or to appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf. Easton Hospital and its health care professionals within the limits of the law and Easton Hospital’s mission, values and philosophy will honor these decisions. A patient is not required to have or complete an “advance directive” in order to receive care and treatment at Easton Hospital.
20. A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at his/her request and expense.
21. When Easton Hospital cannot meet the request or need for care because of a conflict with our mission or philosophy or incapacity to meet a patient’s needs or request, a transfer should be made only after the patient or his/her designated/legal representative has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for, and alternatives to, such a transfer. The transfer must be acceptable to the other institution.
22. A patient has the right to examine and receive a detailed explanation of his/her bill.
23. A patient has the right to full information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his/her health care.
24. A patient has the right to expect that Easton Hospital will provide a mechanism whereby the patient is informed upon discharge of continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
25. A patient cannot be denied the right of access to an individual or agency that is authorized to act on his/her behalf to assert or protect the rights set out in this section.
26. A patient has the right without recrimination, to voice complaints regarding his/her care, to have those complaints reviewed, and when possible, resolved.
27. The patient has the right to be free from restraints or seclusion unless medically necessary or in an emergency situation to protect the patient or others from harm.
28. The patient has a right to have a family member of his/her choice and his/her own physician notified of his/her admission to the hospital.
29. The patient has the right to have restricted access to communication, including visitors, mail, and telephone calls, evaluated for its therapeutic effectiveness. All restrictions on communication are explained to the patient and/or family, and determined with their participation.
30. The patient has the right to access pastoral care services.
31. The patient has the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
A Statement of the Patient’s Responsibilities
As a patient at Easton Hospital, you should assume responsibility for the following:
1. A patient or designated/legal representative is expected to provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, “advance directives”, and other matters relating to his/her health history or care in order for the patient to receive medical treatment.
2. A patient is expected to report whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
3. A patient is expected to cooperate with all hospital personnel and ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly understood.
4. A patient is expected to be considerate of other patients and hospital personnel, to assist in the control of noise and visitors in his/her room, and to observe the smoking policy and preserve the property of Easton Hospital. A patient is also expected to be respectful of the property of other persons and the property of Easton Hospital.
5. In order to facilitate a patient’s care and the efforts of the hospital personnel, a patient is expected to help the physicians, nurses, and allied medical personnel in their efforts to care for him/her by following their instructions and medical orders.
6. Duly authorized members of a patient’s family or designated/legal representative are expected to be available to hospital personnel for review of a patient’s treatment in the event a patient is unable to properly communicate with his/her health care givers.
7. It is understood that a patient assumes the financial responsibility of paying for all services rendered, personally, through an insurance carrier or both.
8. It is expected that a patient will not take drugs which have not been prescribed by his/her attending physician and administered by hospital staff and that a patient will not complicate or endanger the healing process by consuming alcoholic beverages or toxic substances during his/her hospital stay.
A Statement of the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities will be provided to you during the elective admissions process or at the earliest possible appropriate moment during the course of your hospitalization.
If you would like further clarification of the “Rights and Responsibilities” as they pertain to you, please do not hesitate to call the Patient Representative at 610-250-4066.