Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a Patient, You Have the Right

Personal Privacy

To have your personal dignity respected.
To the confidentiality of your identifiable health information.
To enjoy personal privacy and a safe, clean environment and to let us know if you would like to restrict your visitors or phone calls.

Visitation

To receive visitors of your choosing that you or your support person designate, including a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), or another family member or a friend, and the right to withdraw or your consent to receive such visitors at any time.
To be informed or your support person to be informed of your visitation rights, including any clinically necessary restriction or limitation on such rights.
To designate a support person who will designate visitors on your behalf, should you be unable to do so.

Security

To be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
To access protective and advocacy services.
To know that restraints will be used only when necessary.

Cultural and Spiritual Values

To have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
To have access to pastoral and other spiritual services.

Access to Care

To receive care regardless of your age, race, color, national origin, culture, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, religion, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or manner of payment.
To ask for a change of provider or a second opinion.
To choose, if needed, the facility for higher level of care and retain the responsibility for that choice.

Respect and Dignity

You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times and under all circumstances.
You have the right to have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
You may wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.

Access to Information

To make advance directives and have them followed.
To have your family or a representative you choose and your own physician, if requested, be informed of your hospital admission.
To know the rules regulating your care and conduct.
To know that Perry County Memorial Hospital has students in training at times, and that some of your caregivers may be in training.
To ask your caregivers if they are in training.
To know the names and professional titles of your caregivers.
To have your bill explained and receive information about charges that you may be responsible for, and any potential limitations your policy may place on your coverage.
To be told what you need to know about your health condition after hospital discharge or office visit.
To be informed and involved in decisions that affect your care, health status, services or treatment.
To understand your diagnosis, condition and treatment and make informed decisions about your care after being advised of material risks, benefits and alternatives.
To knowledgeably refuse any care, treatment and services.
To say "yes" or "no" to experimental treatments and to be advised when a physician is considering you to be part of a medical research program or donor program. All medical research goes through a special process required by law that reviews protections for patients involved in research, including privacy. We will not involve you in any medical research without going through this special process. You may refuse or withdraw at any time without consequence to your care.
To legally appoint someone else to make decisions for you if you should become unable to do so, and have that person approve or refuse care, treatment and services.
To have your family or representative involved in care, treatment and service decisions, as allowed by law.
To be informed of unanticipated adverse outcomes.
To have your wishes followed concerning organ donation, when you make such wishes known, in accordance with law and regulation.
To request a review of your medical chart with your caregivers during your hospital stay.

Communication

To receive information you can understand.
To have access to an interpreter and/or translation services at no charge.
To know the reasons for any proposed change in the attending physicians/professional staff responsible for your care.
To know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital.

Pain Management

To have pain assessed and managed appropriately.

Disclosures

To request a listing of disclosures about your healthcare, and to be able to access and request to amend your medical record as allowed by law.
To know the relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of your care.

Recording and Filming

To provide prior consent before the making of recordings, films or other images that may be used externally.

Concerns, Complaints or Grievances

To receive a reasonably prompt response to your request for services.
To be involved in resolving issues involving your own care, treatment and services.
To express concerns, complaints and/or a grievance to your providing hospital personnel.
If you or your representative and /or support person has a concern about any aspect of your care at Perry County Memorial Hospital, you are urged to let us know so we can resolve it promptly. This reporting will in no way negatively impact future care. We consider your comments opportunities for us to improve care and service. To address concerns, you may:
- Speak to your physician or nurse (the most direct option).
- Speak to the supervisor of the department where the concern arose.
- If an inpatient, you also may talk with the team leader, nurse manager, nursing director or administrator. The operator can connect you with any of these individuals. You or your representative will be provided a timely response.
- If you would like to make a complaint to a state or an outside agency, you may contact the following: a) Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Health Services Regulation, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570, phone number 573.751.6303 or email: complaint@dhss.mo.gov. b) The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, phone number 800.994.6610.

As a Patient, It Is Your Responsibility

Provision of Pertinent Information

To give us complete and accurate information about your health, including your previous medical history and all the medications you are taking.
To inform us of changes in your condition or symptoms, including pain.

Asking Questions and Following Instructions

To let us know if you don't understand the information we give you about your condition or treatment.
To speak up. Communicate your concerns to any employee as soon as possible—including any member of the patient care team, manager or administration.

Refusing Treatment and Accepting Consequences

To follow our instructions and advice, understanding that you must accept the consequences if you refuse.

Explanation of Financial Charges

To pay your bills or make arrangements to meet the financial obligations arising from your care.
To give up-to-date insurance information. If you do not understand what your insurance covers, you may ask to speak to a member of Utilization or the Business Office.

Following Rules and Regulations

To follow our rules and regulations.
To keep your scheduled appointments, or let us know if you are unable to keep them.
To leave your personal belongings at home or have family members take all valuables and articles of clothing home while you are hospitalized.

Respect and Consideration

To be considerate and cooperative.
To respect the rights and property of others.