PATIENT RIGHTS:

Patients of Physician's Care Surgical Hospital have the following rights as required under state and Federal law:

1. A patient has the right to respectful care by competent personnel in a safe setting.
2. A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his or her attending physician, the names of all other physicians directly participating in his or her care, and the names and functions of other health care persons having direct contact with the patient.
3. A patient has the right to every consideration of his or her privacy concerning his or her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are considered confidential and should be conducted discreetly. This does not include a private room.
4. A patient has the right to have all records pertaining to his or her medical care treated as confidential except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
5. A patient has the right to know what Hospital rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct as a patient.
6. A patient has the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
7. A patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
8. A patient has the right to full information in layman's terms, concerning his or her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and medications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his or her behalf to the patient's next of kin or other appropriate person. As appropriate, communications specific to the vision, speech, hearing, cognitive and language-impaired patient will be appropriate to the need.
9. Except for emergencies, the physician must obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, or both. Informed consent is defined in section 103 of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. § 1301.103).
10. A patient or, in the event the patient is unable to give informed consent, a legally responsible party, has the right to be advised when a physician is considering the patient as a part of a medical care research program or donor program, and the patient, or legally responsible party, must give informed consent prior to actual participation in such a program. A patient, or legally responsible party, may, at any time, refuse to continue in any such program to which he has previously given informed consent.
11. A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedure offered by the Hospital, to the extent permitted by law, and a physician shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of the patient's refusal of any drugs, treatment, or procedure.
12. A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient's request and own expense.
13. A patient has the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, National origin or source of payment.
14. A patient who does not speak English should have access, where possible, to an interpreter.
15. The Hospital shall provide the patient, or patient designee, upon request, access to all information contained in his or her medical records, unless access is specifically restricted by the attending physician for medical reasons, and in accordance with applicable law.
16. A patient has the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the Hospital considering effective use of the time of the patient and to avoid the personal discomfort of the patient.
17. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she or his/her next of kin or other legally responsible representative has received complete information and an explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
18. A patient has the right to examine and receive a detailed explanation of his or her bill.
19. A patient has a right to full information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his or her health care.
20. A patient has the right to expect that the health care facility will provide a mechanism whereby he is informed upon discharge of his or her continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
21. A patient cannot be denied the right of access to an individual or agency who is authorized to act on his or her behalf to assert or protect the rights set out in this section.
22. A patient has the right to be informed of his or her rights at the earliest possible moment in the course of his or her hospitalization.
23. A patient has the right to have a family member or representative of his or her choice and his or her own physician notified promptly of his or her admission to the Hospital.
24. A Patient has the right to participate in development/implementation of their own care and make informed decisions regarding his or her care or designate a representative.  This includes updates on status, ability to request or refuse treatment.  It does not include the right to demand provision of care/treatment not medically necessary or inappropriate. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/her or his/her next of kin or other legally responsible representative has received complete information and an explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
25. A Patient Survey will be given to each patient to encourage the patient to voice his or her opinions regarding care received.
26. Patients will be notified if their physician has ownership interest in the Hospital.
27. A patient has the right to voice grievances regarding care or services that are (or fail to be) furnished, without fear of discrimination or retaliation. If a patient indicates a grievance, the patient will be promptly informed of the Hospital's internal grievance process, including whom to contact to file a grievance. In addition to the internal grievance process, a patient may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-800-254-5164, or by submitting an online complaint form at https://apps.health.pa.gov/dohforms/FacilityComplaint.aspx.
28. A patient has the right to designate a support person to be present throughout the stay unless restricted by policy and to make decisions regarding visitation. A patient cannot be denied the right of access to an individual or agency who is authorized to act on his or her behalf to assert or protect the rights set out in this section.
29. A patient has the right to effective management of pain. (Management does not indicate total cessation of pain specific to scenario)
30. A patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
31. A patient has the right to be free from restraints and/or seclusion in any form that are not medically or behaviorally necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff. Restraint or seclusion may only be used to ensure the immediate physical safety of the patient, a staff member, or others and must be discontinued at the earliest possible time.
32. A patient has the right to access patient brochures, which are provided to the patient, disclose the patient's participation in their care and their responsibilities, and will indicate the Hospital's Non-discrimination policy.
33. A patient has the right to choose his or her own visitors during a hospital stay, including a visitor who is a same-sex domestic partner, spouse, domestic partner, friend, family member to include designation of withdraw of such visitation consent at any time. Imposed visitation restrictions may be done in order to care for the patient, some examples but not limited to: infection control issues, interference with patient care, court order restricting contact, visitors engaged in disruptive, threatening, violent behavior, privacy observation, protocols for substance abuse or behavioral health units, clinical contraindications.
34. A patient has the right to designate the person of their choice, including same-sex partner, to make medical decisions on their behalf should they become incapacitated.
35. A patient has the right to have family members and/or physician notified promptly of admission.
36. A patient has the right to formulate advance directives and have compliance with these directives by all practitioners and staff of the Hospital.
37. A patient has the right to access protective and advocacy services or have these services accessed on the patient's behalf.
38. A patient has the right to reasonable responses to any reasonable request he or she may make for service.
39. A patient has the right to access his or her medical records, including current medical records, upon an oral or written request, in the form and format requested by the individual, if it is readily producible in such form and format (including in an electronic form or format when such medical records are maintained electronically); or, if not, in a readable hard copy form or such other form and format as agreed to by the facility and the individual, and within a reasonable time frame. The hospital must not frustrate the legitimate efforts of individuals to gain access to their own medical records and must actively seek to meet these requests as quickly as its record keeping system permits.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
The care a patient receives depends partially on the patient himself. Therefore, in addition to these rights, a patient has certain responsibilities as well. These responsibilities should be presented to the patient in the spirit of mutual trust and respect:

The patient has the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information concerning his/her present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health.

1. The patient is responsible for reporting perceived risks in his or her care and unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner.
2. The patient and family are responsible for asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about the patient's care or what they are expected to do.
3. The patient is responsible for following the plan of care established by his/her physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physician's orders.
4.  The patient is responsible for accepting the consequences of failing to follow the recommended course of treatment or using other treatments.
5. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying the Hospital or physician when he/she is unable to do so.
6. The patient is responsible for his/her actions should he/she refuse treatment or not follow his/her physician's orders.
7. The patient is responsible for respecting the Hospital property and that of other persons.
8. The patient is responsible for following Hospitals rules and regulations concerning patient care and conduct.
9. The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
10. The patient is responsible for following the hospital policies.

Methods of Communicating Rights:
Physician's Care Surgical Hospital provides multiple methods of communicating patient rights, responsibilities, and patient safety.

1. Employees are introduced to patient rights and responsibilities in New Employee General Orientation.
2. Patient Rights and Responsibilities are posted in high traffic areas throughout the organization and additional copies are available upon request.
3. Patients receive a copy of patient rights and responsibilities at the time of admission.