Patient Rights and Responsibilities - Genesys Health System | Grand Blanc, MI

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Patient Rights and Responsibilities

It is the policy of Genesys Regional Medical Center that each patient admitted to the Medical Center shall have the following Rights and Responsibilities that are within Genesys Regional Medical Center capacity, mission, and law application.

In keeping with the philosophy of Ascension Health System, we believe that every patient enjoys specific rights and has certain responsibilities. In order to meet our goal of quality patient care, you; the patient, and we; the employees and physicians of Genesys Regional Medical Center must work together to facilitate the best patient care possible.

We believe that a patient who understands and participates in his or her health care may achieve better results. The Medical Center has the responsibility to give you adequate and appropriate care, to respect your rights, and recognize your responsibilities as a patient. We have prepared these rights and responsibilities for your benefit. In care of a minor or patient with a guardian, the following rights and responsibilities are also afforded to the patient's parent and/or guardian.

As a patient of Genesys Regional Medical Center, you are entitled to rights and responsibilities.

Rights:

The right to be treated, when accommodations are available and treatment is medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference, or sources of payment.
The right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.
The right to make informed decisions regarding your care, be informed of your health status, and be involved in care planning and treatment.
The right to formulate advance directives and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
The right to have a family member or representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
The right to personal privacy.
The right to receive care in a safe setting.
The right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
The right to the confidentiality of your clinical records.
The right to access information contained in your clinical records within a reasonable time frame. We must not frustrate your legitimate efforts to gain access to your own medical records and must actively seek to meet these requests as quickly as the record keeping system permits.
The right to be fully informed of and to consent or refuse to participate in any unusual, experimental or research project without compromising your access to services.
The right to know the professional status of any person providing your care/services.
The right to know the reasons for any proposed change in the Professional Staff responsible for your care.
The right to know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital.
The relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of your care.
The right to access the cost, itemized when possible, of services rendered within a reasonable period of time.
The right to be informed of the source of the hospital's reimbursement for your services, and any limitations which may be placed upon your care.
The right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
Informed of the right to have pain treated as effectively as possible.
The patient's family has the right of informed consent of donation of organs and tissues.
A patient may not be tested for HIV infection without the patient's consent, unless a health professional or Genesys employee sustains percutaneous, mucous membrane, or open wound exposure to the blood or other body fluids of the patient. If such exposure has occurred, an HIV test may be performed upon the patient without the patient's consent.
A patient may meet with, and participate in the activities of social, religious and community groups at his or her discretion, unless harmful to your medical condition, as noted by your physician in the medical record.
Any person may file a complaint about a health facility with the Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Health Services, Division of Operations, Complaint Investigations Unit, PO Box 30664, Lansing, Michigan 48909. If you need assistance or wish to make an oral complaint, you may call the Department of Community Health at (800) 882-6006.
The public may contact the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Management to report any concerns or register complaints about a Joint Commission-accredited health care organization by calling (800) 994-6610 or emailing http://www.jointcommission.org/GeneralPublic/Complaint.

Your responsibilities as a patient include:

Medical History. You are responsible for providing honest and complete information about your current condition and about your past medical condition and treatment.
Lack of Understanding. You are responsible for making it known if you do not understand the description of your condition or the description of the course of treatment proposed for your condition.
Refusal of Treatment. You have the right to refuse treatment, but if you refuse treatment, you are responsible for the results of the decision.
Following Instructions. You are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by your health care team, including physicians, nurses and therapists. This responsibility also includes keeping appointments and giving notice when unable to do so.
Charges for Treatment. Regardless of the type of insurance plan you have, you are responsible for paying for, or for ensuring payment for, the medical treatment rendered to you at Genesys.
Respect for others and for property. You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and for Genesys personnel. This responsibility particularly recognizes that other patients may be harmed by noisy conversation or behavior. You are responsible for being respectful of Genesys property.
Rule and Regulations. You are responsible for following rules and regulations of Genesys regarding patient care and conduct.
Reporting Pain. You are responsible for telling us about your pain; this includes:
- asking your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or clinician) what to expect regarding pain and pain management,
- discussing pain relief options with your nurse,
- asking for pain relief when your pain first begins,
- helping your health care provider measure your pain,
- telling your health care provider about any pain that will not go away, and
- discussing any worries or fears you have about taking pain medication.

If you feel that your rights have not been respected, you may file a grievance by calling (810) 606-6551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. On holidays and weekends, please call the hospital operator at 810-606-5000 and ask to speak with a House Operation Administrator.

* This document meets all JCAHO, HFAP and CMS requirements.