Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Care at Children’s comes with rights and responsibilities.

Rights

At Children’s, the patient and his/her family have the right to:

1. Impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available and medically indicated regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation/ gender identity or source(s) of payment for care.
2. Have advance medical directive information available at the time of admission to patients who meet the legal criteria and address decisions about the care, treatment and services received at the end of life.
3. Have appropriate assessment and management of pain.
4. Receive information in a manner that is clear in order to make informed choices, including:
   – Access to interpreters in a language other than English or for the hearing impaired.
   – Explanations provided in a way in which are understandable, and include providing information to a patient or guardian who may have vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments in a manner that meets the patient’s/guardian’s needs.
   – An explanation of all forms a patient or their family is asked to sign and to be able to refuse to sign consent forms if they do not feel everything is explained satisfactorily.
   – The option to give or withhold informed consent, which includes an explanation of procedures and treatments including the risks, benefits and medically significant alternatives.
   – The option to participate or refuse to participate in medical education or research programs.
5. Have a family member or representative of their choice and their physician notified promptly of the child’s admission to the hospital.
6. Be informed about the outcome of care, including an unanticipated outcome when appropriate.
7. Be informed of all caregivers and actively participate in their care to the extent possible.
8. Be informed of professional relationships among individuals who are providing service, as well as the relationship to any other health care or educational institutions involved in their care.
9. Care that promotes comfort, growth, play and learning in an age-appropriate environment.
10. A safe environment which preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image including:
    – Access to the Children’s Advocacy Team (CAT) if there are concerns about abuse or neglect.
    – Access to protective and other advocacy services.
    – The right to voice complaints or concerns to hospital staff without compromising patient care and to have those complaints reviewed and when possible, resolved, and the right to file a complaint with the state authority or the Joint Commission if you choose.
11. Have access to people outside of the hospital by means of visitors, and by verbal and written communications, and to be included, as appropriate, to restrict such access. This includes having a family member, friend, or another individual present for emotional support during the course of their visit.
12. Restrict access to medical information by outside visitors or hospital personnel not directly involved in care to the extent permitted by law.
13. Receive planned and coordinated quality care.
14. Be informed of their condition and any continuing health care needs.
15. Be free from seclusion and restraints unless required to prevent injury to patient or others.
16. Be free from neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse.
17. Be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy.
18. Have their privacy respected and confidentiality maintained:- All communications, medical records and information about source(s) of payment will be treated as confidential.
    – No information will be given out without your consent or as allowed by law.
19. Have personal spiritual, cultural and psycho-social, values, beliefs, and preferences respected, including the right to wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with procedures or treatment.
20. Have access to hospital pastoral services or those of the patient’s choice.
21. Have access to the Children’s Ethics Committee for consultation.
22. Request a second opinion, a consultation or a change of health care provider or hospital.
23. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the consequences of that refusal.
24. Request and receive an itemized listing of charges for services provided.
25. Have access, request an amendment to, and receive an accounting of disclosures regarding their health information as permitted under applicable law.

Responsibilities

At Children’s, the patient and his/her family, in partnership with hospital staff, are expected to:

1. Provide accurate and complete information regarding medical history, allergies, medications, communicable diseases and other health matters, including any changes in this information.
2. Provide accurate and complete information regarding names, addresses, telephone numbers and insurance information, including any changes in this information.
3. Participate in care decisions with the health care team to ensure the best possible treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning.
4. Inform the health care team if the health care instructions are not understood or if they cannot be followed.
5. Promptly meet any financial obligation for health care services provided and to know health care benefits and coverage, to include playing an active role to obtain referrals and pre-certifications.
6. Treat other families and staff in a considerate, courteous and cooperative manner.
7. Take care of personal property and valuables, and to respect the hospital’s property and the property of other patients.
8. Respect the hospital’s staff, rules, and regulations.
9. Take responsibility for following the plan of care upon discharge and to assume the consequences if the plan of care is not followed.