Patients Rights and Responsibilities
PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS
The health care that is provided at South Sunflower County Hospital is a collaborative effort between the patient, physicians, and all hospital staff. South Sunflower County Hospital recognizes the basic rights of human beings to express themselves, to make decisions, and to take action, as well as the individual's concern for personal dignity. South Sunflower County Hospital will work hard to assure that these rights are preserved to the utmost respect for our patients. This hospital also has the right to expect certain kinds of behavior from our patients. Patients, their relatives, and friends should behave reasonably and appropriately.
PATIENT RIGHTS
ACCESS TO CARE: Patients have the right to impartial access to all available services and medically indicated treatments, regardless of race, religious beliefs, sex, nationality, handicapping condition, sources of payment, or lack of ability to pay.
RESPECT AND DIGNITY: Patients have the right to considerate, respectful care and the recognition of their personal dignity. Such respect includes announcing oneself when staff enters a patient room and working to assure visual and auditory privacy for the patient.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY: Patients have the right to confidentiality of all records and communications, written or oral, between patients and health care providers, except as authorized by the patient/legal guardian or may be necessary to promote continuity of care, to facilitate reimbursement on the patient's behalf, or to comply with the law . If a patient's family/significant other(s) are to be included in the discussions of the patient's condition and care needs, the patient should be asked to designate whom he/she wishes to be present and informed. Patients also have the right to personal privacy.
PATIENT SAFETY: Patients have the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital's practices and environment are concerned. The patient has the right to express concerns about their medical care without delay. This right extends to family members or the representative of the patient, and will not change any current or future care.
IDENTITY: Patients have the right to know the identity and professional qualifications of all personnel involved in his or her care through clear disclosure on staff's hospital badge.
INFORMATION: Patients have the right to be informed of his or her health status, to be involved in the care planning and treatment, and to be able to request and refuse treatment. Patients have the right to obtain from their physician, in terms they can reasonably understand, complete current information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. When it is not prudent to give this information to the patient, the information should be made available to the appropriate person acting for the patient. Patients have the right to access, upon request, all information contained in their medical record; except when access is specifically restricted for medical reasons by the attending physician.
COMMUNICATION: Patients who cannot communicate in English, are visually or hearing impaired, have the right to have access to methods that provide needed information in an appropriate format.
CONSENT: Expect for circumstances that constitute a life-threatening emergency, patients have the right to receive from their physician's sufficient information for them to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment including recording and filming. Patients have the right to refuse to participate in research projects that affect their care or treatment.
CONSULTATION: Patients have the right, at their request, to assistance in obtaining a consultation with other physicians.
REFUSAL OF TREATMENT: Patients have the right, to the extent permitted by the Patient Self-Determination Act and other laws, to refuse treatment and to be informed of the potential or possible consequences of this action.
PARTICIPATE IN CARE: Patients have the right to be involved and actively participate in decisions that affect the extent and type of care they will receive. Patients also have the right to participate in questions of pain management and other decisions affecting the care of the dying patient.
TRANSFER: Patients have the right to expect a reasonable response to requests for services, within the capabilities of South Sunflower County Hospital. When medically appropriate, the patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she or an appropriate person on his/her behalf has received reasonable information concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient transfer.
CONTINUITY OF CARE: Patients have the right to be notified in advance of their impending discharge and to have a person of the patient's choice be notified reasonably in advance of discharge. Upon discharge, patients will be informed of their continuing health care requirements and the resources available for meeting those requirements.
HOSPITAL CHARGES: Patients have the right to have an explanation of their bill for hospital services if requested. To help better understand hospital charges please visit this page.
COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS: Patients, their families, or legal guardians have the right to express their concerns regarding the quality of care being given, in a non-threating and constructive atmosphere without fear of compromised care now or in the future. Concerns or complaints regarding Medicaid should be referred to 1-800-421-2408. Concerns or complaints concerning South Sunflower County Hospital should be referred to 662- 887-5235 extension 1519.
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS: Patients have the right to exercise any cultural and spiritual beliefs that are not violations of the law. The care of a patient shall include psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural values that influence the perception of illness.
FORMULATE ADVANCED DIRECTIVES: Patients have the right under State Law to formulate advanced directives. Information regarding advanced directives will be given at the time of admission.
FREE FROM SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT: Patients have the right to be free from seclusion, physical restraints, and chemicals used as a restraint, that are not medically necessary, or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by the staff.
FREE FROM VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE OR HARASSMENT: Patients have the right to be free from abuse. While the patient is under the hospital's care and on its property, the hospital is responsible for ensuring the patient's health and safety, his/her physical emotional, and psychological well-being. Patients have the right to access protective and advocacy services. Addresses and telephone numbers will be made available upon request from the patient or family.
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION: Patients have the right to have a family member or representative of his/her choice, and his/her physician notified promptly of admission to the hospital.