About Us
Patient Resources
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Davis
Memorial Hospital has developed the following patient rights and responsibilities
with the intent of providing care within its capabilities, mission
and philosophy and to reflect its concern and respect for the rights
of patients. This statement does not presume to be all-inclusive.
Rights as a patient
The patient has the right
to:
1. A safe environment.
2. Be treated with respect and consideration by competent staff.
3. Treatment without discrimination regardless of the source of payment.
4. Obtain from his/her doctor complete current information about their diagnosis and possible outcome. When it is not medically advisable to give such information, the information will be made available to an appropriate person on the patient's behalf.
5. Be informed of the outcome of his/her care.
6. Refuse any procedure, treatment, or drugs offered by the hospital to the extent permitted by law. Additionally, the patient has the right to leave the hospital, against his/her doctor's advice, to the extent permitted by law. If the patient leaves the hospital against medical advice, the hospital will not be responsible for any harm that this action might cause.
7. Privacy, whenever possible.
8. Confidentiality of all medical records/information.
9. Obtain information as to any relationship of the hospital to other health care and educational institutions as far as his/her care is concerned.
10. Refuse, after being given information, to participate in the education of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals or to participate in experimental treatment.
11. Receive a detailed explanation of the bill, along with information about any available financial resources.
12. Hospital rules and regulations that apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
13. A reasonable response to his/her request for services and to avoid personal discomfort.
14. Information about pain and pain relief measures.
15. A concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management.
16. Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain.
17. Health professionals who believe your reports of pain.
18. Pain management with the use of interventions.
19. A thorough explanation upon discharge of the patient's continuing medical requirements.
20. Formulate advance directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
21. Appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law.
22. Freedom from the management of behavior unless clinically required.
23. Participate in the development and implementation of his or her plan of care.
24. 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.
25. Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
26. Access information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame.
Responsibilities as a patient:
The patient has the responsibility to
1. Provide accurate information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, etc., related to medical history.
2. Ask his/her doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management.
3. Discuss pain relief options with his/her doctor and nurse.
4. Work with his/her doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan.
5. Ask for pain relief when pain first begins.
6. Help his/her doctor and nurse to assess his/her pain.
7. Tell his/her doctor or nurse if his/her pain is not relieved.
8. Tell his/her doctor or nurse about any worries he/she may have about taking pain medication.
9. Follow health care instructions during his/her hospital stay, at discharge and to ask questions if directions are not understood.
10. Be considerate of other patients and staff regarding the control of noise, number of visitors and care of hospital property.
11. Keep appointments or to telephone the hospital when he/she cannot keep a scheduled appointment.
12. Inform the hospital administration as soon as possible if he/she believes his/her rights have been or may be violated. This may be done by calling Sandy Phillips, Director of Quality & Risk Management at ext. 181 or (304) 637-3181 or by e-mail at phillipss@davishealthsystem.org.