ROBERT PACKER HOSPITAL PATIENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We consider you a partner in your hospital care.

When you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professional, you help make your care as effective as possible. At Robert Packer Hospital, we encourage respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual. 

1.       You have the right to respectful care given by competent personnel and also, reasonable access to care in a timely manner.

2.       You have the right to considerate and respectful care with consideration of your psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural values that may influence our perceptions of illness and care. You have the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.

3.       You have the right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.

4.       You have the right to be well informed about your illness in layman’s terms, possible treatments and likely outcome and to discuss this information with your doctor so that you may make an informed decision.  You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.

5.       You have the right to consent or refuse medical care or treatment, as permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.  If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will receive other needed and available care. You have the right, except for emergencies, for the physician to obtain necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment or both.

6.       You have the right to a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.  These documents express your choices about your future care and name someone to make decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself.  If you have written advance directives you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family, and your doctor, prior to admission.

7.       You have the right to receive care in a safe setting and be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.

8.       You have the right to be free from physical and mental abuse, and corporal punishment.  You also have the right to be free from restraint, of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.  Restraint may only be imposed to ensure the immediate physical safety of the patient, a staff member, or others, and must be discontinued at the earliest possible time.

9.       You have the right to personal privacy and confidentiality of information, within limits of the law.  The hospital, your doctor, and others caring for you will protect your privacy as much as possible.

10.   You have the right to expect that treatment records will be kept confidential unless you give permission to release information or law requires information reporting. When the hospital releases records to others, such as insurers, it emphasizes that the records are confidential.

11.   You and your legally designated representative have the right to access information contained in your medical records within a reasonable time frame and the hospital must meet your request as quickly as its record-keeping system permits to have the information explained, except when restricted by law.

12.    You have the right to expect that the hospital will give you necessary health services to the best of its ability.  Treatment, referral or transfer may be recommended.  If transfer is recommended or requested, you will be informed of risks, benefits, and alternatives.  You will not be transferred until another institution agrees to accept you.

13.   You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care.  These relationships may be with educational institutions, other health care providers or insurers

14.   You have the right to be informed of any experimentation or other research or educational projects affecting your care and to consent or decline to take part in research affecting your care.  If you choose not to take part, you will receive the most effective care the hospital otherwise provides.

15.   You have the right to be told of realistic care alternatives when hospital care is no longer appropriate.

16.    You have the right to discuss any concerns that you have regarding the quality of care that you are receiving or premature discharge.  You may discuss these issues with your nurse or physician, who can contact hospital administration or utilization management.  You may also contact hospital administration or utilization management with any of your concerns.

17.   You have the right to know about hospital rules that affect you and your treatment and about changes and payment methods. You have the right to know in advance of the hospitals furnishing or discontinuing patient care whenever possible.

18.   You or your designated representatives have the right to know about hospital resources, such as the ethics committee, that can help you resolve problems.  If you have questions or are not satisfied with the quality of your care, please speak with a nurse, physician or hospital administrator.

19.   You have the right to have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.

20.   You have the right to have access to a translator / interpreter if you do not speak or understand English or are hearing impaired. A reasonable attempt will be made to locate a translator / interpreter. An adult of your choice who is able to translate / interpret may do so if you wish.

21.   You have the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at your request and

       expense.

22.   You have the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon race, color, religion,

      sex, sexual preference, national origin or source of payment.

23.   You have the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the hospital considering effective use of your time and with avoidance of discomfort to you.

24.   You have the right to examine and receive a detailed explanation of your bill. You have the right to full information and counseling on the availability of known resources for your health care.

25.   You have the right to expect the healthcare facility to provide a mechanism whereby you are informed upon discharge of your continuing healthcare requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.

26.   You have the right not to be denied access to an individual or agency that is authorized to act on your behalf to assert or protect your rights as describe in this document.

27.   You have the right to be informed of these rights at the earliest possible moment in the course of your hospitalization.

28.   You have the right to effective pain management.

Patient Responsibilities

1.       You are responsible for providing information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicine.

2.       You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions.

3.       If you believe you can’t follow through with your treatment, you are responsible for telling your doctor.

4.       You and your visitors are responsible for being considerate of the needs of other patients, staff and the hospital.

5.       You are responsible for providing information about your insurance coverage and for working with the hospital to arrange payment.

6.       You are responsible for recognizing the effect of life-style on your personal health.

Quality of care and safety are our highest priorities.  If you identify safety or quality of care concerns, we strongly encourage you or your family to report them to us immediately.  You may do so by contacting the person taking care of you, the Department Manager, the Patient Advocate at extension 5812, or the Hospital President at extension 4317.  You may also refer complaints to the:  

Pennsylvania Department of Health                      Office of Quality Monitoring        

             Acute and Ambulatory Care Services                  Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
             P.O. Box 90                                                     One Renaissance Boulevard
             Harrisburg, PA  17108-0090                               Oakbrook Terrace, IL  60181

1-800- 254 – 5164                                              1-800-994-6610

                        complaint@JCAHO.org  

If you are a Medicare Beneficiary or the spokesperson for a person who is a Beneficiary, you may also refer complaints to:

   Quality Insights of Pennsylvania

   2601 Market Place Street, Suite 320

   Harrisburg, PA  17110

   1-877-346-6180, ext. 7620