We consider you a partner in your health care. When you are well informed, take part in your care decisions, and talk openly with your doctor and other healthcare team members, you help make your care as successful as it can be.
All patients have the right to not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, diagnosis or source of payment for care. Furthermore, patients have a right to mutual respect and dignity, including respect for property.
These rights can be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if the patient does not have decision making capacity, is legally incompetent, or is a minor.
While you are a patient in this facility, your rights will include but not be limited to the following:
You and/or your representative have the right to:
- Be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to your conduct as a patient.
- Be informed of your rights before patient care is furnished or discontinued whenever possible.
- Be treated kindly and respectfully by all hospital personnel.
- Receive complete and current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms you can understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information, it should be made available to an appropriate person on your behalf.
- An explanation of any proposed procedure or treatment. The explanation should include a description of the nature and purpose of the treatment or procedure, to know the risks or serious side effects, and treatment alternatives.
- Know the name, identity and professional status of the person providing services to you.
- Know who is primarily responsible for your care.
- Expect that a family member or representative be notified promptly (with your permission) of your admission to the hospital.
- Participate in developing and implementing your plan of care.
- Make informed decisions about your care.
- Have an advance directive and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives. If you have an advance directive we request that you promptly supply a copy at every admission to the hospital.
- Accept medical care or refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.
- Personal privacy concerning your own medical care program. Care discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those persons not directly involved in the care must have your permission to be present.
- Expect that all communications and clinical records pertaining to your care will be treated confidentially, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law.
- Access information contained in your medical records within a reasonable time frame.
- Receive evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of your situation. When this facility cannot provide the care you need or request, you may be transferred to another facility only after having received complete information and explanation concerning the need for, and alternative to, such a transfer. The transfer must be acceptable to the facility that will be receiving and accepting your care.
- Exercise a cultural and spiritual belief that does not interfere with the well being of others or the planned course of medical therapy for the patient.
- Know if your care involves any experimental methods of treatment and if so, you have the right to consent or refuse to participate.
- Be informed by the practitioner of any continuing healthcare requirements following discharge.
- Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
- Receive care in a safe setting.
- Receive information about rights as a Medicare beneficiary and about Advance Directives at admission.
- Be free from restraints or seclusion of any form that is not medically necessary or is used by means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by the staff.
- Examine your bill and receive an explanation of the charges regardless of the source of payment for your care.
- Use the Clarke County Hospital grievance process for submitting a written or verbal grievance to a staff member of any department within Clarke County Hospital.
- Refer quality of care concerns to Department of Inspections and Appeals or premature discharge grievances to the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care.
- Expect Clarke County Hospital, at your request, to refer beneficiary complaints to the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care.
As A Patient You and/Or Your Representative Have The Responsibility To:
- Provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to your health, including advance directives and reporting whether you clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected.
- Follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other health care professionals as they implement the practitioner’s orders and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.
- Assume responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or if you do not follow the practitioner’s instructions.
- Assure that the financial obligations of your care be fulfilled as promptly as possible.
- Follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
- Be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise and the number of visitors in your room.
- As of July 1, 2008, Clarke County Hospital became a smoke-free environment. Smoking is banned in all areas, including outside the buildings.