Patient Rights & Responsibilities

We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible. This hospital encourages respect for the personal preferences, values and beliefs of each individual.

Patient Rights:

All patients receiving care, treatment and services from MHSC and its clinics have the following rights:

To be informed of visitation rights, including:
◦ Right to receive visitors, according to the patient's wishes and consent
◦ Right to withdraw or deny consent for visitors
To be treated with dignity and respect
To effective communication
To have cultural and personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected
To personal privacy and privacy of health information
To pain management
To religious or other spiritual services
To access, request amendments to, and obtain information on disclosure of health information
To have a family member, a friend, or another individual present for emotional support during the patient's stay
To be free from discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression
To receive information in a manner that is understandable and tailored to the patient's age, language and ability to understand
To receive information in a manner that meets the patient's needs when they are impaired by vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments
To be involved in making decisions about care, treatment and services
To have patient's physician promptly notified of the patient's hospital admission
To refuse care, treatment, and services and to receive information about this in writing
To have a surrogate decision maker if the patient is unable to make decisions on their own. The surrogate decision maker has the right to refuse care, treatment and services on the patient's behalf
To have family involved in decision making about care, treatment, and services
To receive information about the outcomes of the patient's care, treatment, and services that is needed to participate in current and future health care decisions
To be informed about anticipated outcomes of care, treatment, and services that relate to sentinel events
To give or withhold informed consent
To give or withhold informed consent to produce or use recordings, films, or other images for purposes other than the patient's care
To receive information about the individual(s) responsible for and providing the patient's care, treatment, and services
To be free from neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse
To have an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to positive self-image
To have complaints reviewed by the Hospital without being subject to coercion, discrimination, reprisal, or unreasonable interruption of care
To access protective and advocacy services
To discuss with a physician any ethical issues that arise during the course of care
To request access to MHSC's Ethics (or similar committee) Committee
To receive information about advance directives
To have advance directives respected and followed
To have issues addressing autopsy and organ donation conducted in a sensitive manner
To request and receive pastoral counseling
To request and expect the Hospital to arrange for the prompt and orderly transfer of the patient's care to others when the Hospital cannot meet the patient's request or needs for care, treatment, and services

Patient Responsibilities

All patients receiving care, treatment, and services from MHSC and its clinics have the following responsibilities:

To provide information that facilitates patient care, treatment, and service
To ask questions or acknowledge when the patient does not understand the treatment course or care decisions
To follow instructions, policies, rules, and regulations that support quality care and a safe environment
To be considerate and respectful when interacting with staff member
To not be verbally, physically or mentally abusive to staff member
To maintain civil language and conduct
To meet financial commitments to MHSC
To provide accurate and complete information about health-related matters
To take an active role in making decisions about care, treatment, and services by doing the following:
◦ Discussing condition and treatment with the medical care provide
◦ Reporting any changes in conditio
◦ Providing advance directive and/or expressing wishes regarding use of life support
To cooperate with Hospital staff who provide care
To ask questions if plans or direction or care are not clearly understood
To follow and respect the Hospital's rules and regulations about patient care and conduct
To be considerate of the rights of other patients and staff members
To follow guidelines about use of cameras, phone cameras, and other recording devices in all areas of the Hospital
To accept responsibility for actions if treatment is refused or provider instructions are not followed by patient
To provide the Hospital with complete information to process insurance claims
To arrange to pay bills within an acceptable time period
To be responsible for belongings and not bring unnecessary items or valuables to the Hospital
To inform staff members of all information that may affect care and safety

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County works to provide care efficiently and fairly to all patients and the community. A hospital serves many purposes. Hospitals work to improve people's health; treat people with injury and disease; educate doctors, health professionals, patients and community members; and improve understanding of health and disease. In carrying out these activities, this institution works to respect your values and dignity.