Patient Bill of Rights

Jefferson County Health Center will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected class in any manner prohibited by federal or state laws.

As a patient, or parent or legal guardian of a minor patient, you have the right to:

1. Be informed in writing of your rights before patient care is furnished or discontinued whenever possible.

2. Receive effective communication. When written information is provided, it is appropriate to your age, understanding and language appropriate to the populations we serve.

3. Have language interpreters available at no cost to you. If you have vision, speech, hearing, language, or cognitive impairments, the hospital will address those communication needs.

4. Be treated kindly and respectfully by all hospital personnel.

5. Receive complete and current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms you can understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information, it should be made available to an appropriate person on your behalf.

6. Consult with a specialist of your choosing at your request and expense if a referral is not deemed medically necessary by your attending physician.

7. Be given an explanation of any proposed procedure or treatment. The explanation should include a description of the nature and purpose of the treatment or procedure; the known risks or serious side effects; and treatment alternatives.

8. Know the name, identity and professional status of the physician or other practitioners providing care, services, and treatment to you at the time of service.

9. Know the name of the physician or other practitioner who is primarily responsible for your care, treatment, and services within 24 hours after admission.

10. Expect that a family member (or representative) and your own physician will be notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.

11. Participate in developing, approving and implementing your plan of care.

12. Make informed decisions and be involved in resolving dilemmas about your care, treatment, and services. With your permission and as appropriate by law, your family will be involved in care, treatment, and service decisions.

13. Have a surrogate decision-maker, as allowed by law, identified when you cannot make decisions about your care, treatment and services.

14. Have an advanced directive, such as a living will or a healthcare power of attorney, and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives. These documents express your choices about your future care or name someone to make healthcare decisions if you are unable. If you have a written advanced directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family and your doctor. You may review and revise your advanced directive. The existence or lack of an Advanced Directive does not determine your access to care, treatment and services.

15. Refuse medical care, treatment, or services to the extent permitted by law and regulation and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal. When you are not legally responsible, your surrogate decision maker, as allowed by law, has the right to refuse care, treatment, and services on your behalf.

As a patient, you have the responsibility:

1. To provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to your health, including advanced directives. You will report perceived risks in your care and unexpected changes in your condition; and you will affirm whether you clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected.

2. To follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other health care professionals as they implement the practitioner's orders and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.

3. For your actions if you refuse treatment or if you do not follow the practitioner's instructions.

4. To assure that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

5. To follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

6. To be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking and the number of visitors in your room.

7. To ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told about your care or what you are expected to do.