Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

• The patient has a right to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
• You will receive health care that meets professional standards in a safe setting.
• You will receive care without discrimination as to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, beliefs, national origin, age, handicap, diagnoses or ability to pay
• You have the right to expect unrestricted access to communication. Sometimes it may be necessary, as a component of your care to restrict telephone calls or other forms of communication. You and your family will be included in any such decision.
• You may expect to have your personal and physical privacy maintained and have your property treated with respect.
• You may have access to hospital financial records pertaining to you and have them explained.
• You may expect to have access to appropriate protective services (i.e. Adult Protective Services).

The right to choose who may or may not visit.

• You will not have visitors restricted, limited, or otherwise denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
• You will enjoy equal visitation rights that you or your support person has designated either orally or in writing, including but not limited to spouse, a domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend or support person and the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.
• In order to protect the health and safety of all patients, there may be times when it is clinically necessary to limit or restrict visitors. Clinical staff will notify you if this should occur.

The right to personal privacy, confidentiality and availability of records.

You may expect that any discussion or conversation regarding your care will be discreet and professional in nature.

You may access your information in a reasonable timeframe and have it explained to you.

You may have protection from unauthorized review of your records.

The right to prompt resolution of grievances.

• You have the right to file complaints or grievances regarding care, and the decision to file complaints or grievances will not compromise that care and all information will be kept confidential.
• You may express concerns by the following:
  • Expressing your concerns directly to caregivers in charge of your care.
  • Writing comments on surveys.
  • Requesting formal action through the Patient Advocate. The Patient Advocate must be notified for formal action and an investigation of a grievance. This may be done by writing to BCHC, Attention: Patient Advocate, 1600 1st St. E. Independence, IA 50644, or by calling asking to speak to the Patient Advocate at (319)332-0999.
• Upon receipt of a concern, the Patient Advocate has the responsibility to acknowledge and resolve a grievance within seven (7) working days; however, on the occasions when this is not possible, the patient or their representatives will be informed that BCHC is still working to resolve the grievance.
• A letter containing written notice of decision including the name of the hospital contact person, steps taken on behalf of the individual for investigation of the complaint, results of the process and the date of completion of the grievance process will be sent within 30 days of completion of the resolution.
• If covered by Medicare, initiating external complaints via: numbers found in the Message from Medicare form given to you at Registration. If not covered by Medicare, initiating external complaints via: Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals, Lucas State Office Building, 321 East 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0083. Phone: (515)281-7102. Fax (515)242-6863.
• In the event that your complaint remains unresolved with your primary care clinic, you may file a complaint with The Compliance Team Inc. via their website: www.thecomplianceteam.org or via phone: (800)291-5353.

The right to information that will permit you to participate in development and implementation of your plan of care.

• You may make informed decisions regarding your care. This includes choosing a personal attending physician, being informed as to health status, care planning, treatment, and requesting and refusing treatment.
• You may refuse any treatment, procedure or participation in experimental research.
• You may ask questions and expect honest, understandable answers allowing you to participate in and make decisions about your care.
• You may assist in the formulation of your health care and Advance Directives and have providers comply with these directives.
• You may have a family member, support person or physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
• You may expect to be informed if the facility will be unable to provide specific specialty care.
• The right to education regarding your condition, its causes and treatment.
• You may expect to receive the appropriate knowledge/skills necessary to manage your condition.
• You may expect to receive and use necessary information enabling you to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
• You will be asked to provide information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and medications.
• You may expect to receive appropriate after-care instruction and referral.

All patients have the right to be free from restraint or seclusion, of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.

• You may only have a restraint used to improve your well-being when less restrictive methods are ineffective.
• The restraints must be:
  • Ordered by a physician or advanced practice provider, never as a standing or as needed order, and followed by a consultation with the treating physician as soon as possible.
  • In accordance with a written modification to the plan of care.
  • Implemented in the least restrictive manner.
  • In accordance with safe and appropriate restraining techniques.
  • Ended at the earliest possible time.

Your condition will be assessed, monitored and re-evaluated while restrained.

Recognizing that a spirit of cooperation must exist between yourself and those providing care to you, we affirm the following patient responsibilities:

• The responsibility to provide truthful and complete health information regarding health problems you experience (including any complications or side effects from the care received).
• The responsibility to tell the hospital or doctor’s office if you have prepared an advanced directive for health care. (Medical Power of Attorney or Living Will)
• The responsibility to sign required consents and release for care and pay for care as agreed.
• The responsibility to make it known if you do not understand what you have been given in education, instructions or communication.
• The responsibility to protect your valuables by sending them home with family members or having them placed in the hospital locked area.
• The responsibility to treat hospital personnel with respect and consideration and to also respect the rights of other patients.
• The responsibility to provide the hospital or doctor’s office with your insurance and financial information.

If you have questions about your Rights and Responsibilities while in the hospital or clinics, contact the Patient Advocate.

Revised 3.21.23