Patients & Visitors' Guide
Patient's Rights and Responsibilities
The rights and responsibilities of patients who are unable to
make decisions because of physical or mental limitations or because
they are minors are protected by the patient's guardian, health
care agent or legal representative.
You Have the Right Regarding . . .
Communication and Decision-Making
- To know the name and role (M.D., R.N., L.P.N., etc.) of your
doctor and other caregivers
- To receive information about your medical problem and treatment
in language you can understand
- To communicate with your caregivers and receive assistance with
any special needs you may have
- To read your medical record
- To have confidentiality regarding your medical information
- To participate in decisions involving your care, including the
right to refuse care to the extent permitted by law, and to be
informed of the medical consequences of this action
- To have a consultation with a specialist, at your expense
- To be informed about the outcomes of care, including unexpected
outcomes
- To request a transfer to another room
- To voice complaints about your care and have those complaints
reviewed and, when possible, have those complaints resolved
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Your concerns are important to us. If you have comments
about your care, patient rights and/or would like to share a
compliment, please contact the Service Excellence Department at
978 922-3000, ext. 2273 (CARE).
When you have concerns regarding patient care or safety that
have not been resolved by the hospital, you may contact the
Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Quality at
800 462-5540 and/or the Joint Commission's Office
of Quality Monitoring at 800 994-6610 or
email
complaint@jointcommission.org
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- To receive a prompt response to any concerns or complaints you
express
- To have an advance directive (either a Health Care Proxy or a
Durable Power of Attorney for health care) and expect the hospital
to honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by
law and hospital policy.
Treatment Planning and Care
- To have privacy and respectful care
- To have a person of your own sex present during personal
care
- To have your pain or discomfort relieved as much as
possible
- To refuse to be cared for by students or any other staff
without affecting your access to care
- To refuse to participate in research
- To have the protection and environment needed for
personal safety
- To help with planning your after-hospital medical
care.
Family, Friends, Spiritual Support, Personal
Matters
- To define the level of involvement of your family members
in your health care decisions
- To have visitors and to communicate with people outside
of the hospital, or to refuse to see visitors
- To practice spiritual and cultural preferences that do
not harm others or interfere with your care
- To wear personal clothing and religious or symbolic items
that do not interfere with your care
Financial Arrangements
- To receive prompt lifesaving treatment in an emergency
regardless of your ability to pay
- To be informed of the hospital's charges for treatment,
to learn about available payment methods including financial
assistance and/or free care; to receive a copy of all charges
submitted to insurance companies
Your Responsibilities as a
Patient
- To follow the rules or regulations of the hospital which
may apply to your conduct and safety as a patient
- To provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and
complete information about your symptoms, past illnesses,
allergies, hospitalizations, medications, pain severity, and
other matters relating to your health
- To report unexpected changes in your condition to your
doctor or nurse
- To report whether you clearly understand the medical plan
for you and understand what part you play in it
- To follow the treatment plan recommended by the doctor
responsible for your care by following the instructions of nurses
and other health professionals as they carry out the plan of care,
implement the responsible doctor's orders, and enforce the
applicable hospital rules and regulations
- To be responsible for your actions if you refuse
treatment or do not follow the doctor's instructions
- To assure that the financial obligations for your health
care are fulfilled as promptly as possible
- To be considerate of the rights of other patients and
hospital personnel by assisting in the control of noise and the
number of visitors
- To be respectful of the property of other persons in the
hospital
