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Patient Rights and Responsibilities

At T.J. Samson Community Hospital ("TJSCH") we strive to treat all patients equally and impartially, with understanding and compassion reflecting our concern for the dignity of human life. As a patient here, you have certain rights and responsibilities, which are outlined below. These apply equally to all patients and to parents or legal guardians of children (including newborns), adolescents and psychiatric patients. These rights and responsibilities are yours regardless of whether you are a patient at the hospital campus or at the T.J. Health Pavilion. Thank you for allowing us to be your healthcare provider.

Patient rights

Access to care

Individuals shall be accorded impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sex, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status or sources of payment for care.

Respect and dignity

The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of personal dignity, personal values and beliefs. The patient is allowed to exercise cultural and spiritual beliefs that do not interfere with their well-being or the well-being and beliefs of others. Spiritual needs of patients are addressed by staff and through the hospital chaplaincy program. The patient has the right to be free from abuse or harassment.

Privacy and confidentiality

The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy, as manifested by the following rights:

  • To be assured confidential treatment of their records and afforded the opportunity to approve or refuse the release of those records to any individual not involved in their care except as required by HIPAA, state law or third-party payor arrangements.
  • To refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with TJSCH, including visitors or persons officially connected with TJSCH but not directly involved in their care.
  • To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
  • To be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to ensure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of one's own sex present during certain parts of a physical examination, treatment or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex and the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
  • To expect that any discussion or consultation involving their case will be conducted discreetly and that individuals not directly involved in their care will not be present without their permission.
  • To have their medical record read only by individuals directly involved in their treatment or other purposes allowed under HIPAA utilizing the minimum necessary standard. Other individuals can only read their medical record on their written authorization or that of their designated personal representative.
  • To expect all communications and other records pertaining to their care, including the source of payment for treatment, to be treated as confidential.
  • To request a transfer to another room if another patient or a visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing them.

Personal environment

  • The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
  • The patient has the right to security and personal privacy.
  • The patient has the right to be placed in protective privacy (non- disclosure status) when considered necessary for personal safety.
  • The patient has the right to be free from seclusion and restraints, of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
  • The patient has the right to all provisions under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Identity

The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to the patient and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for their care. This includes the patient's right to know of the existence of any professional relationship among individuals who are treating him, as well as the relationship to any other healthcare or educational institutions involved in the patient's care. Participation by patients in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes shall be voluntary.

Information

The patient has the right to obtain, from the practitioner responsible for coordinating the patient's care, complete and current information concerning their diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to a designated personal representative. The patient has the right to view their medical records.

Communication

The patient has the right of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication, subject to the policies of individual units. Restrictions are evaluated for their therapeutic effectiveness. Any restrictions will be discussed with the patient and family.

For the hearing and speech impaired, TTY–TDD, amplified telephones are available as well as printed materials. Measures are also taken to address the needs of those with cognitive impairments.

Language assistance

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Executive Order 13166, TJSCH offers interpreting services free of charge for patients with limited English proficiency, hearing impairment and other assistive devices so that we can communicate effectively with them and meet their healthcare needs. TJSCH has a team of certified medical interpreters that can provide face-to-face and telephone interpreting services to ensure accurate and safe patient communication, care and treatment. You may contact the hospital operator at 270.651.4444, the Pavilion operator at 270.651.1111 or speak with Registration for assistance.

Consent

  • The patient has the right to reasonable informed participation in decisions involving their healthcare. To the degree possible, this should be based on a clear, concise explanation of the patient's condition and of all proposed technical procedures, including the possibilities of any risk of mortality or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation and probability of success. The patient should not be subject to any procedure without the patient's voluntary, competent, and understanding consent or the consent of their designated personal representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall be so informed.
  • The patient has the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatment.
  • The patient shall be informed of their medical condition, unless medically contraindicated (as documented in their medical record), and is afforded the opportunity to participate in the planning of his medical treatment.
  • The patient shall be informed if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting the patient's care or treatment; the patient has the right to refuse to participate in any such activity and to review that decision periodically.
  • The patient has the right to participate in ethical questions that arise in the course of their care, including issues of conflict resolution, withholding resuscitative services, forgoing or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and participation in investigational studies or clinical trials.

Consultation

The patient, at their own request and expense, has the right to consult with a specialist.

Refusal of treatment

The patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment by the patient or their designated personal representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.

Transfer and continuity of care

Except in an emergency, a patient may not be transferred to another facility or organization unless the patient has received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternatives to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility or organization. The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner (or the patient's designee) responsible for their care of any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.

Pain management

The patient has the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

Charges and fees

Regardless of the source of payment for his care, the patient has the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of his total bill for services rendered in the hospital. The patient has the right to timely notice prior to termination of his eligibility for reimbursement by any third-party for the cost of his care or an Advanced Beneficiary Notice for any outpatient procedures not covered by Medicare.

Rules and regulations

The patient should be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to their conduct as a patient. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints. The hospital has the right to restrict visitation and/or presence on hospital premises.

Protective services

The patient has the right to access protective services. Protective services determine the need for protective intervention, correct hazardous living conditions or situations in which vulnerable adults are unable to care for themselves, and investigate evidence of neglect, abuse or exploitation. Such services for children help families recognize the cause of any problems and strengthen parental ability to provide acceptable care. Protective services can include guardianship and advocacy services, conservatorship, state survey and certification agency, state licensure office, the state ombudsman program, the protection and advocacy network, and the Medicaid fraud control unit.

Plan of care

The patient has the right to help plan their care. To help with this plan, the patient must learn about their illness, injury, surgery, or procedure. They can then discuss their treatment options with their healthcare provider. The patient can work with the provider to decide what care will be used. The patient always has the right to refuse treatment. The patient and when appropriate, their family, has the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes.

Beneficiary discharge rights notice

TJSCH will issue An Important Message from Medicare about patient rights (IM) at the time of inpatient admission of a Medicare beneficiary. This is to assure beneficiary rights to an appeal process prior to discharge from an inpatient level of care.

Discharge Planning Evaluation

Please be informed that as an inpatient of T.J. Samson Community Hospital, you and/or your caregivers have a right to request a discharge planning evaluation by members of our case management team. Please let your nurse know if you would like a discharge planning evaluation.

Advance directives

At the time of registration, all adults will be assessed for having an advance directive or provided access to information on their right to create an "advance directive" such as a living will, healthcare surrogate or a durable healthcare power of attorney. More information about Advanced Directives can be found here.

Patient responsibilities

The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Provision of information

A patient has the responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to the patient's health. The patient has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in their condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for reporting whether they clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of the patient.

Asking questions

The patient, their family or a designated personal representative is 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.

Compliance with instructions

A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for their care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care, implement the responsible practitioner's orders, and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner of the hospital.

Refusal of treatment

The patient is responsible for their actions if treatment is refused or the practitioner's instructions are not followed.

Respect and consideration

Patients, families and visitors are expected to be considerate of other patients and hospital personnel by not making unnecessary noise, smoking or causing distractions. Patients, families and visitors are responsible for respecting the property of other persons and that of the hospital.

Suggestions/Complaints

T.J. Regional Health wants you to know that when you have any concerns about patient care and safety that the hospital has not addressed, you are encouraged to contact the hospital's management. The names of managers for your patient care area are posted on the nursing units or you may call 270.651.4242 to speak with the Patient Advocate.

Concerns/suggestions can be presented to the Patient Advocate or other staff member without fear of reprisal. If the concerns cannot be resolved through the hospital, the individual may contact the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring to report any concerns about a Joint Commission-accredited healthcare organization by either calling 800.994.6610 or emailing complaint@jointcommission.org.