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Patient rights and responsibilities

As a natural outgrowth of our organizational values and mission, the board of directors, the medical staff and the employees of Mary Rutan Hospital affirm and recognize the following rights and responsibilities of patients:

Patient rights

  1. The patient has the right to respectful care that is provided in consideration of psychosocial, spiritual and cultural variables.
  2. The patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician and their direct caregivers complete, current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand.
  3. The patient has the right to collaborate with his/her physician, to make decisions concerning his/her healthcare including the right to prepare Advance Directives and appoint a surrogate.
  4. The patient has the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
  5. The patient has the right to every consideration of his/her personal privacy. The patient also has the right to expect that all communications and records shall be treated as confidential.
  6. The patient has the right to know his/her responsibilities and rights, and what policies and practices apply to his/her care and treatment as a patient. The patient also has the right to present grievances or recommend changes in policies and services—free from restraint, discrimination or reprisal.
  7. The patient has the right to expect that within its capacity and mission philosophy, the hospital will make a reasonable response to the request of a patient for hospital services or withholding/withdrawal of services. The patient has the right to be transferred to an accepting facility if the hospital cannot honor the patient's request.
  8. The patient has the right not to be transferred to another facility or organization unless he/she has received a complete explanation of the need for transfer and assistance in discharge planning. The hospital will not transfer patients based on financial means alone.
  9. The patient has the right to know the names and professional status of the persons directly involved in his/her care.
  10. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital or physician proposes to engage in research, experiments or educational projects relating to the patient's care. The patient will be given a description of the expected benefits, potential discomforts and risks, a description of alternative services, and a complete description of the plan of treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in any such activity without any compromise in accessibility to services.
  11. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of the source of payment and to receive, upon request, information relating to financial assistance through the hospital. Upon request, the patient shall receive a copy of his/her hospital bill.
  12. The patient has the impartial right to receive services regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status or source of payment.
  13. The patient or surrogate has the right to inspect or receive, for a reasonable fee, a copy of his/her medical record without prior authorization from the patient.
  14. The patient has the right to address any conflicts in decision-making concerning care of the patient with the unit nursing director, shift director or physician. All complaints will be addressed and a response will be given to the patient or surrogate initiating the complaint. Ethical dilemmas relating to medical care that cannot be resolved can be taken to the Bioethics Committee for clarification and guidance.
  15. The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
  16. The patient has the right of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and verbal/written communications as specified through hospital visitation guidelines.
  17. The patient, at his/her own request and expense, has the right to consult with a specialist.
  18. The patient and, when appropriate, his/her family has the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes.
  19. The dying patient has the right to care provided with comfort and dignity and acknowledgment of psychosocial and spiritual concerns.

Patient responsibilities

  1. Provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications and other matters relating to the patient's health, and to report any unexpected changes in condition to the responsible practitioner.
  2. Cooperate with all hospital personnel and ask questions if directions and procedures are not understood.
  3. Be considerate of other patients and hospital personnel, refrain from smoking, and minimize the amount of noise, the number of visitors and other distractions.
  4. Provide information necessary for insurance processing; however, the patient has the ultimate responsibility in paying all hospital bills.
  5. Be respectful of the property of other persons and the property of Mary Rutan Hospital.
  6. Help the physicians, nurses and allied medical personnel in their efforts to return the patient to good health by following their treatment plans and medical orders, expressing any concerns about his/her ability to follow the plan, and understanding the consequences. The patient and family must also work with the staff in making any adaptations.
  7. Inform and present the physician any advance directives that exist, such as living wills or healthcare durable powers of attorney; and/or his/her wishes concerning any medical treatment that may be indicated. The patient is responsible for the consequences if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner's instructions.
  8. Be responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Contact Information Regarding Your Care

Mary Rutan Hospital wishes to promote open communication regarding your hospital experience.

We encourage you to speak to the respective department director or call the Director of Quality/Risk Management at 937.651.6769 to voice complaints, concerns or to ask questions.

Should you have a concern that is unresolved, you have the right to contact:

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare

Phone: 1.866.496.9647

Email: hospitalcomplaint@dnv.com

Website: https://www.dnvhealthcareportal.com/patient-complaint-report

Mail: DNV Healthcare USA Inc.

Attn: Hospital Complaints

4435 Aicholtz Road, Suite 900

Cincinnati, OH 45245

The Ohio Department of Health

1.800.342.0553

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

1-800-Medicare

Concerns Specific to Laboratory Services

College of American Pathologists

1.800.236.7212

The Joint Commission

1-800-994-6610