Your rights and responsibilities as a hospital patient:
We think of you as a partner in your hospital care. When you are well informed, involved in your care, and talk openly with your doctor and other health care workers, you can help make your care as effective as possible. Members of the PBMC Patient Care Team respect the personal preferences and values of each individual.

While you are a patient in the hospital, your Rights include the following:

• You have the right to considerate and respectful care in a safe environment, free from abuse and harassment.
• You have the right to an interpreter or other aids, if needed, to help you communicate.
• You have the right to have your personal doctor and a family member or other person you choose notified that you have been admitted to the hospital.
• You have the right to be well informed about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome.
• You have a right to discuss this information with your doctor, and to help create and implement your plan of care.
• You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.
• You have the right to know about pain and pain relief measures and to have caring, concerned and responsive staff who are committed to pain prevention and state of the art pain management.
• You have the right to consent or refuse a treatment, as permitted by law, throughout your hospital stay.  If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will receive other needed and available care.
• You have the right to privacy. The hospital, your doctor and others caring for you will protect your privacy as much as possible. 
• You have the right to have an advance directive, such as a living will or health care proxy.  These documents express your choices about your future or name someone to decide if you cannot speak for yourself.  If you have a written advance directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family and your doctor. 
• You have the right to expect that treatment records are kept confidential unless you have given permission to release information or when disclosure is required or permitted by law. When the hospital releases records to others, such as insurers, it emphasizes that the records are confidential.
• You have the right to read your medical records and to have the information explained, except when restricted by law.
• You have the right to expect that you will be in a safe environment and that PBMC 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 the other institution agrees to accept you.
• You have the right to be free from restraints or seclusion unless necessary for medical reasons or for physical safety.
• You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care. These outside parties may be educational institutions, other health care providers, or insurers.
• You have the right to agree or refuse 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.
• You have the right to be told of realistic care options when hospital care is no longer needed for you.
• You have the right to know about hospital rules that affect you and your treatment and about charges and payment methods. You have the right to know about hospital resources, such as patient representatives or ethics committees, that can help you resolve problems and questions about your hospital stay.
  

You also have Responsibilities as a patient:

• You are responsible for giving information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicine.
• You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions.
• You are responsible for following the care, service or treatment plan developed. If you believe you cannot follow through with your treatment, you are responsible for telling your doctor.
• You are responsible for accepting the consequences if you do not follow the care, service or treatment plan. 
  

PBMC works to provide care efficiently and fairly to all patients and the community.

• You and your visitors are responsible for following the hospital rules and regulations, for being considerate of the needs of other patients, staff and the hospital, and for respecting the confidentiality of other patients.
• You are responsible for providing information for insurance and for working with the hospital to arrange payment when needed.
  

Your health depends not just on your hospital care, but in the long term, on the decisions you make in your daily life.

• You are responsible for recognizing the effect of a lifestyle on your personal health.
  

A hospital serves many purposes.  It treats the sick and injured and strives to improve the health of the community.  A good hospital also educates its staff, physicians, patients, and community members.  In carrying out these activities to improve understanding of health and disease, PBMC works to respect your values and dignity.

Updated: 5/2/08