Patient Bill of Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Bill of Rights

We want you to have the best possible care as prescribed or recommended by those treating you. We also want you to know what your rights are as a patient, as well as what your obligations are to yourself, your physician and the hospital.

• A patient has the right to respectful care given by competent workers.
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  A patient has the right to know the names and the jobs of his or her caregivers.
• A patient has the right to privacy and access of medical information as described in Novant's Notice of Privacy Practices.
• A patient has the right to privacy with regard to his or her medical condition. A patient's care and treatment will be discussed only with those who need to know.
• A patient has the right to have his or her medical records treated as confidential and read only by people with a need to know. Information about a patient only will be released with permission from the patient or if permitted by law.
• A patient has the right to have a family member or representative and his or her doctor notified promptly of his or her admission to the hospital.
• A patient has the right to know what facility rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct as a patient.
• A patient has the right to have emergency procedures done without unnecessary delay.
• A patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
• A patient has the right to make decisions regarding his or her care and has the right to include family members in those decisions.
• A patient has the right to information from his or her doctor in order to make informed decisions about his or her care. This means that patients will be given information about their diagnosis, prognosis and different treatment choices. This information will be given in terms that the patient can understand. This may not be possible in an emergency.
• A patient has the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes.
• A patient has the right to participate in the development and implementation of their plan of care.
• A patient has the right to full information about any research studies in which he or she has been given the option to participate. A patient may refuse to participate in any research study. A patient who chooses to participate has the right to stop at any time. Any refusal to participate in a research program will not affect the patient's access to care.
• A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment or procedures, to the extent permitted by law, after hearing the medical consequences of refusing the drug, treatment or procedure.
• A patient has the right to have help getting another doctor's opinion at his or her request and expense.
• A patient has the right to care without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or source of payment.
• A patient has the right to be given information in a manner that he or she can understand. A patient who does not speak English or is hearing- or speech-impaired has the right to an interpreter, when possible, at no cost to the patient.
• Upon request, a patient has the right to access all information contained in the patient's medical records within a reasonable time frame. This right may be restricted as allowed by law.
• A patient has the right to have information in the medical record explained to him or her.
• A patient has the right not to be awakened by staff unless it is medically necessary.
• A patient has the right to be free from needless duplication of medical and nursing procedures.
• A patient has the right to treatment that avoids unnecessary discomfort.
• A patient has the right to be transferred to another facility only after care and arrangements have been made and the patient has been given complete information about the hospital's obligations under law.
• A patient has the right to a copy of his or her bills. A patient also has the right to have the bill explained.
• A patient has the right to request help in finding ways to pay his or her medical bills.
• A patient has the right to help in planning for his or her discharge so that he or she will know about continuing health care needs after discharge and how to meet them.
• A patient has the right to access people or agencies to act on the patient's behalf or to protect the patient's rights under law. A patient has the right to have protective services contacted when he, she or the patient's family members are concerned about safety.
• A patient has the right to be informed of his or her rights at the earliest possible time in the course of his or her treatment.
• A patient has the right to make advance directives (such as a living will, health care power of attorney and advance instruction for mental health treatment) and to have those directives followed to the extent permitted by law.
• A patient has the right to personal privacy and to receive care in a safe and secure setting.
• A patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
• A patient has the right to be free from the use of seclusion or restraint, of any form, as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff. Restraints and seclusion may only be used to protect the immediate safety of the patient or others. They must be removed or ended at the earliest possible time. Patients have the right to safe implementation of restraint or seclusion by trained staff.
• A patient has the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
• A patient has the right to see visitors of his or her choice. This includes the right to designate visitors who shall receive the same visitation privileges as the patient's immediate family members, regardless of whether the visitors are legally related to the patient.
• A patient has the right to pastoral care and other spiritual services.
• A patient has the right to be involved in resolving dilemmas about care decisions.
• A patient has the right to voice complaints/grievances without intimidation or fear of discrimination and reprisals.
• A patient has the right to have his or her complaints about care resolved.
• A patient and his or her family have the right to contact a Novant Health ethics committee to ask for help about ethical issues, such as starting or stopping treatments to keep the patient alive, differences of opinion or when advance directives cannot be honored.

Patient Responsibilities

• A patient has many responsibilities to help Forsyth Medical Center provide the best care possible during their hospital stay.
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  Patients are responsible for providing correct and complete information about their health and past medical history.
• Patients are responsible for reporting changes in their general health condition, symptoms or allergies to the responsible care giver.
• Patients are responsible for reporting if they do not understand the planned treatment or their part in the plan.
• Patients are responsible for following the recommended treatment plan they have agreed to, including instructions from nurses and other health personnel.
• Patients are responsible for keeping appointments.
• Patients are responsible for treating others with respect.
• Patients are responsible for following facility rules regarding smoking, noise and use of electrical equipment.
• Patients are responsible for consequences of refusing planned treatments.
• Patients are responsible for paying for their care.
• Patients are responsible for respecting the property and rights of others.
• Patients are responsible for assisting in the control of noise and the number of visitors in their room.
• Patients are responsible for notifying their doctor or nurse if they change their advance directive.
• Patients are responsible for communicating with staff regarding pain management.
• Patients are responsible for sending their valuables home or asking staff for help in securing their valuables.

Children and Adolescents

We recognize the extraordinary circumstances involved in the care of infant, child and adolescent patients. There are certain rights and responsibilities that are unique to the parents or guardians of these patients.

• The family/guardian of a child or adolescent patient generally has the right and responsibility to be involved in decisions about the care of the child. A child or adolescent has the right to have his or her wishes considered in the decision-making as limited by law.
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  A child or adolescent patient has the right to expect that care and the physical environment will be appropriate to his or her age, size and needs.
• A child or adolescent patient whose treatment requires a long absence from school has the right to educational services. These services will be arranged with the local school system.