Individuals shall be accorded impartial access to accommodations and/or treatment that are available, medically indicated and environmentally secure regardless of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, handicap or sources of payment/financial status.

Respect and Dignity:

The patient, at all times and under all circumstances, has the right to considerate respectful care that recognizes their personal dignity and individuality while respecting their personal values and beliefs.

Freedom From Abuse:

The patient has the right to be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse or harassment and to be treated at all times with courtesy, dignity, and respect.

Freedom from Restraint:

The patient has the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary.  These measures may not be used for coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.

Privacy and Confidentiality:

The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy.

The patient may refuse to talk with, or see, anyone not directly involved with their care.

The patient will be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of one's own sex present during parts of physical examination, treatment, or procedure preformed by a health professional of the opposite sex, and the right not to remain disrobed any longer then required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.

The patient may expect any discussion or consultation involving their care will be conducted discreetly and individuals not directly involved in their care will not be present without permission.

The patient's medical record will be read only by individuals directly involved in the treatment the monitoring of their care, or by other individuals that have written authorization from the patient or their legal representative.

The patient may expect all communication both personal and that pertaining to their care, to be treated confidentially.

The patient may wear appropriate personal clothing and religions or other symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with the diagnostic procedures or treatment.

Patient Safety:

Our goal is to ensure the highest quality of care in a safe environment.

Identity:

The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service and to know which physician or practitioner is primarily responsible for their care.

The patient will be addressed by employees in a respectful manner using a term(s) that is satisfactory to the patient.

Communication:

The patient has the right of easy access to people, both inside and outside the Hospital by means of visitors, and by verbal and written communication.

When the patient does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community, they will have access to an interpreter.

Information and Consent:

The patient has the right to obtain, from the practitioner responsible for coordinating their care, complete and current information concerning their diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. The patient (or their representative) will be included in the consideration of ethical issues regarding their care, the use or disuse of resuscitative services and/or life sustaining treatment, and participation investigational studies and/or clinical trials. Participation of patients in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes should be voluntary.

Patients not understanding their diagnosis treatment and possible risks must ask the doctor for clarification. Patients should also talk with the physician if they have questions as to whether there are alternatives to the care proposed.

When you give the doctor permission to go ahead with the plan, you are consenting to the care/treatment which the physician orders and/or performs. In some cases you will be asked to sign a consent for the specific treatment.

Advance Directives:

The patient has the right to determination of care.  Advance Directives (Living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare or legal “Do Not Resuscitate Orders) allow patients the opportunity to give instructions about future health care. The patient may expect that his health care providers will provide care that is consistent with these directives.

Pain Management:

The patient has the right to have any pain / discomfort relieved as completely as is possible.  Both the patient and family will be involved in assisting staff to effectively manage the level of pain / discomfort.

Consultation:

The patient, at their own request and expense, has the right to consult with a specialist.

Refusal of Treatment:

The patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment by the patient, or legally authorized representative, prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patients may be terminated upon reasonable notice.

Transfer and Continuity of Care:

A patient may not be transferred to another facility unless they have received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternatives to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility. The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner responsible for their care, or his delegate, of any continuing health care requirement following discharge from the hospital.

Hospital Charges:

Regardless of the source of payment for their care, the patient has the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of the total bill for services rendered in the hospital. If any part of the bill the patient receives is not understood, it will be explained by the personnel from the Business Office. Payment for services charged, but not rendered, may be withheld until agreement is reached.

Sub acute skilled care residents are to be informed of basic rate/service charges and notified 30 day in advance of charges.

Sub acute skilled care residents may manage their own financial affairs according to unit policy.