Patient Rights

1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.

2. The patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physicians and other direct care givers relevant, current and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Except in emergencies, when the patient lacks decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits.

Patient have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses, and other involved in their care, including students, residents or other trainees.

The Patient also has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.

3. The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment. The patient has the right to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of the medical consequences of the action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides, or the patient may be transferred to another hospital. The hospital should notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within this institution.

4.  The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, healthcare proxy, or durable power of attorney for healthcare) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate decision-maker. The hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.

Patients will be advised of their rights under state law and hospital policy to make informed medical choices.  They will be asked if they have an advanced directive.  That information will be included in patient records.  Patients have the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit our ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.

5.  The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy.  Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment should be conducted to protect each patient's privacy.

6.  The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential by the hospital.  However, cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards will be considered exceptions when reporting is permitted or required by law.  The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it is released to and other parties entitled to review information in these records.

7. The patient has the right to review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.

8.  The patient has the right to expect that with in its capacity and policies, the hospital will make reasonable response to the the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services.  The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case.  When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility.  The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted that patient for transfer.  The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risks, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer.

9.  The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, or other health care providers, that may influence the patient's treatment and care.

10.  The patient has the right to consent or decline to participate in proposed research among the hospital, educational institutions, or other health care providers, that may influence the patient's treatment and care.

11.  The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other care givers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.

12.  The patient has the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment and responsibilities.  The patient has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives, or other mechanisms available in the hospital.  The patient has the right to be informed of the hospital's charges for services and available payment methods.

Reporting Complaints to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)

If you do not feel that your complaint about quality of care was well resolved by Good Shepherd, you may submit a confidential complaint to the JCAHO. You may do this anonymously, if you wish.

Office of Quality Monitoring, JCAHO
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (800) 994-6610
E-mail: complaint@jcaho.org
 

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The collaborative nature of health care requires that patients, other family/surrogates, participate in their care.  The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction with the course of treatment depend, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities.

1.  Patients are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to health status.

2.  To participate effectively in decision making, patients must be encouraged to take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about their health status or treatment when they do not fully understand information and instructions.

3.  Patients are responsible for ensuring that the health care institution has a copy of their written advance directive if they have one.

4.  Patient are responsible for informing their physicians or other care givers if they anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment.

5.  Patients should also be aware of the hospital's obligation to be reasonably efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community.  The hospital's rules and regulations are designed to help the hospital meet this obligation.

6.  Patients and families are responsible for making reasonable accommodations to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff, and hospital employees.

7.  A person's health depends on much more than health care services.  Patients are responsible for recognizing the impact of their life style on their personal health.

 Meeting Financial Commitments

The patient and family are responsible for promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital.

Patients are educated about their responsibilities during the admission, registration, or intake process and as needed thereafter.

The patient's family or surrogate decision-maker assumes the above responsibility for the patient if the patient has been found by his or her physician to be incapable of understanding these responsibilities, has been judged incompetent in accordance with law, or exhibits a communication barrier.

The hospital informs each patient of his or her responsibilities either verbally, in writing or both, based on hospital policy.

Patients are responsible for being considerate of other patients, helping control noise and disturbances, following smoking policies, and respecting others' property.