Patient’s Rights & Responsibilities

You have the right to ...

• Safe, high quality, medical care, without discrimination based upon age, race, color, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or source of payment, that is compassionate and respects personal dignity, values and beliefs.
• Participate in and make decisions about your care and pain management, including refusing care to the extent permitted by law. Your care provider (such as your doctor or nurse) will explain the medical consequences of refusing recommended treatment.
• Have your illness, treatment, pain, alternatives, and outcomes explained in a manner you can understand.
• Interpretation services, if needed, free of charge.
• Know the name and role of your care providers. You have the right to request that a family member, friend and/or physician be notified that you are under the care of this facility.
• Assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician.
• Expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
• Be informed about transfers to another facility or organization and be provided with a complete explanation including alternatives to a transfer.
• Receive information about continuing your health care following discharge and means for meeting them.
• Know the policies that affect your care and treatment and your conduct as a patient.
• Know when something goes wrong with your care.
• Participate in research or decline to participate in research. You may decline at any time without compromising your access to care, treatment and services.
• Have wishes respected regarding organ donation.
• Private and confidential treatments, communications and medical records to the extent permitted by law.
• Receive information concerning your advance directives, (living will, health care power of attorney, or mental health advance directives), and to have your advance directives respected to the extent permitted by law.
• Access your medical records in a reasonable timeframe, to the extent permitted by law.
• Be informed of charges and receive counseling on the availability of known financial resources for health care.
• Receive a notice of non-coverage and patient’s discharge rights if a Medicare beneficiary.
• Not be awakened by staff unless it is medically necessary.
• Be free from needless duplication of medical or nursing procedures.
• Be free from restraints and seclusion that are not medically required or are used inappropriately.
• Access advocacy or protective service agencies and a right to be free from abuse.
• Designate visitors who shall receive the same visitation privileges regardless of whether the visitors are legally related to you. Patient or support person may withdraw or deny visitation consent at any time.
• Access staff and the Ethics Committee for help in resolving conflicts about care.
• You and your family have the right to have your compliments, concerns and complaints addressed. Sharing your concerns and complaints will not compromise your access to care, treatment and services. Please call or email:

Patient Relations

(984) 974-5006

Patient.Relations@unchealth.unc.edu

As a patient, you have the responsibility to...

• Provide a complete and accurate medical history and changes in your condition.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by your doctor; share any concerns with the treatment plans with your physician.
• Be considerate and respectful of other patients and personnel.
• Be responsible for asking your physician or nurse what to expect regarding care and treatment, including pain and pain management.
• Ask for pain relief and provide continuing feedback to staff regarding your pain.
• Be responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your doctors’ orders.
• Give information for insurance and to work with Chatham Hospital to arrange for payment when needed.
• Follow Chatham Hospital’s rules and regulations, including the Tobacco Free policy.

The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation can be reached at 1-800-624-3004 or (within NC) 919-855-4500 or write them at: 2711 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2711; or

The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610 or write them at: Office of Quality Monitoring, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. 60181.

Derechos y Responsabilidades del Paciente