Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities

Rights

As a patient, you have the following rights:

Access

• To have access to quality medical care, regardless of race,color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity or gender identity.
• To have access to spiritual services.
• To have access to protective services that include, but are not limited to, guardianship and advocacy services.
• To have access to your medical records and right to confidentiality.
• To have a complete list of patient rights and responsibilities by contacting the service advocacy department at (740) 454-5946.

Respect

• To be given care that respects personal values and beliefs.
• To have all medical records and personal information treated in a confidential manner.
• To be provided personal privacy and to have respect given to your property.
• To receive care in a safe setting free from all forms of abuse or harassment on the Genesis HealthCare System premises.
• To have an interpreter or alternate form of communication if needed.
• To examine and receive an explanation of your bill within the guidelines of your payment source.
• To be informed of the business relationships between Genesis HealthCare System and other people or organizations participating in the provision of your care.
• To have any concerns or grievances about your care addressed. To begin the process, ask your care provider or contact the Ohio Department of Health at 1-800-342-0553, 246 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43266.
• To be provided care without any form of physical, psychological or sexual abuse, coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

Treatment

• To know the identity and professional status of all people involved with your care, including students and trainees.
• To prepare or be given information about advance directives including decisions on organ and tissue donations and to have your family be given the right to informed consent for organ and tissue donation. To have honored the intent of any existing directives to the extent permitted by law and Genesis HealthCare System policy.
• To obtain enough information and education to be able to give informed consent for treatment and procedures.
• To be informed of your health status and to participate in decisions involving your care, including the right to request or refuse treatment.
• To have family/representative participation (as allowed by law) in care decisions when appropriate.
• To be informed beforehand of any research project related to your treatment and to refuse to participate if you so choose. If asked to participate, be provided with an explanation of procedures, benefits, potential discomforts and risks. Refusal will not compromise access to service.
• To be as restraint free as possible. Restraints are used only to protect patients from harming themselves or others.
• To refuse or to have withdrawn life-sustaining treatment.
• To consult with the ethics committee of Genesis HealthCare System for help in resolution of conflicts in care or treatment decisions. To do so, ask a care provider to assist you.
• To know the reasons for a transfer to another facility, within the hospital or outside of Genesis HealthCare System, in order to have access to appropriate care.
• To appropriate assessment and management of pain.
• Know the reasons for any proposed change in the professional staff responsible for your care.

Visitation

• To be informed (or the support person, where appropriate) of his or her visitation rights, excluding any clerical restrictions or limitations on such rights.
• To receive the visitors whom he or she designates, including but not limited to, a spouse, domestic partner (including same sex domestic partner), another family member or a friend, and the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.
• To not be restricted, limited or otherwise denied visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
• To enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with their preferences.
• To include in their Advanced Directives the individual being named as a support person, approved visitor or designated decision maker.
• To have visitation and communication with family and friends as long as there is no interference with their patient care or other patients’ care. They have the right for a full explanation for any restrictions on communication. When needed, restrictions are determined with patient and family participation.

Responsibilities

Your Responsibilities Include:

• Providing accurate and complete information regarding previous medical history, hospitalizations, medications, present complaints and other matters relating to your health.
• Treating the staff with due consideration, respect and dignity.
• Respecting the rights of other patients in regard to visitors, property, noise and anything else that may be annoying to another patient.
• Arranging for security of all personal property. Genesis HealthCare System is not liable for lost or stolen items.
• Participating in and following the treatment plan recommended by your physician and health care team. If you do not follow it, all goals may not be met. And requesting further information concerning anything that is not understood.
• Abiding by the general rules and regulations that apply to patient care and conduct at Genesis HealthCare System.
• Asking your doctor/nurse what to expect regarding pain, pain management and pain relief options. It is also the patient’s responsibility to inform nursing staff when pain first begins by describing the type of pain and the pain location.
• Providing all billing information pertinent to reimbursement for services; to comply with all insurance regulations necessary to maintain coverage; and to fulfill the financial obligations of your health care as promptly as possible.