Patient Rights and Responsibilities

You, the patient, have the right:

To treatment without discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

To expect a family member and your doctor will be informed you are a patient at the medical center.

To be treated with dignity and respect in a safe, clean setting, free from abuse, neglect or harassment.

To know the identity of doctors, nurses and others involved in your care and you have the right to know when they are students, residents or other trainees.

To receive information about what is expected of patients and where you can take complaints. Patients can freely voice complaints and recommend changes without being subject to coercion, discrimination, reprisal, or unreasonable interruption of care, treatment and services.

To privacy and confidentiality within the limits of the law. (Your rights are described in the Notice of Privacy Practice.)

To be told about your illness or injury, the benefits and risks of each treatment, what to expect during treatment and how well you may recover. This information must be given in terms you can understand, so you can give permission before treatment begins. (Except in emergencies when the patient is not conscious or not able to communicate and the need for treatment is urgent.)

To request a review by the Ethics Committee about an ethical issue related to your care.

To refuse treatment, if the law allows, and to be told by your doctor what might happen medically, because of your decision.

To be told if anything unexpected and significant happens during your medical center stay and any resulting changes in your care.

To have your report of pain acknowledged and treated as appropriate.

To be free from restraints and seclusion of any form used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.

To be informed about advance directives and to receive assistance in completing one. This will include naming someone to make decisions about your care if you are not able to. (You will receive treatment even if you do not have an advance directive.)

To receive care to make you as comfortable as possible if you are dying, including your spiritual needs regarding death.

To have access to space and be allowed to talk privately with people outside of the medical center, whether in person, by mail, or telephone, appropriate to your needs, care, treatment and services.

To have access to a medical center interpreter.

To have a family member, friend or other representative of your choice present with you for emotional support during your stay.

To be told of any research being done related to your care, and to either agree or refuse to be part of the research.

To be active in your plan of care, before, during and after your medical center stay, and to be told of choices available to you for healthcare services after leaving the medical center.

To receive help identifying sources of follow-up care, and to let you know if our medical center has a financial interest in any referrals.

To file a complaint about any part of your care and to know what happened as a result of your complaint.

To be allowed to see or get a copy of your medical record as allowed in the St. Joseph policy. (Written request, 24 hours in advance.)

To ask for a detailed copy of your bill, even if insurance is paying. Contact the Business Office at 816-943-2192.

To be informed of the medical center programs available to you if you are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence.

Call 816-461-4673, and ask for the Bridge Span Advocate, or call the Metro Wide Domestic Violence Hotline at 816-HOTLINE (816-468-5463).

Even if the patient is able to make his/her own decisions, they may appoint a representative to exercise these rights on their behalf. If the patient is not able to make his/her own decisions, is legally incompetent or is a minor, an authorized representative including a guardian can exercise these rights on the patient’s behalf.

You have the responsibility:

To provide, to the best of your ability, accurate and complete information about your condition, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medication, dietary supplements, past allergic reactions, etc., related to your health.

To be aware of financial consequences of using uncovered services or out of network providers and any network or admission requirements under your health plan.

To inform physicians, nurses or other health professionals of any change in your condition or reaction to your treatment, or any special needs during your visit, such as spiritual care, interpreters, etc.

To ask questions if you do not understand your medical plan of care or treatment instructions.

To follow the instructions of healthcare providers involved in your care.

To accept responsibility if you choose to refuse treatment.

To be respectful of the rights of other patients, staff and property of the medical center.

To follow medical center rules and regulations affecting patient care, conduct, safety and visiting hours.

St. Mary’s Medical Center is smoke-free facility.

St. Mary’s is committed to providing quality care to our patients. Physicians’ clinical decisions about the patient’s care are based on patient needs and not affected by the method of payment between the medical center and providers.

If you have any questions regarding your patient rights and responsibilities, or have a request, concern or complaint, please contact:

Accreditation Agency:
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd. • Oakbrook Terr, IL 60181
800-994-6610
jointcommision.org

Patient Privacy

If you wish to receive a copy of St. Mary’s Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact your nurse. You can direct questions or concerns about patient privacy to the Privacy Officer at 816-943-2112.