Care Decisions/Informed Consent
A patient has the right to be informed about and to participate in decisions related to his/her care. A patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician complete current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate person on his/her behalf.
Questions, conflicts, and/or other dilemmas may arise between the Hospital, patients, families or other decision makers. A patient has the right to be involved in resolving these dilemmas about care, treatment, and services.
The patient has the right to receive, from his/her physician, information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient has the right to such information.
The patient – and, when appropriate, his/her family – has the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, and services that have been provided, including information about unanticipated outcomes.
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Pain Management
Each patient has the right to assessment and management of pain.
The patient can expect:
- Information about pain and pain relief measures,
- A concerned staff committed to pain prevention, and
- Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain and state-of-the-art pain management.
The patient is expected to:
- Ask his/her physician what to expect regarding pain and pain management.
- Discuss pain relief options with his/her physician or nurse.
- Work with staff to develop a plan for pain management.
- Request pain relief when pain begins.
- Help his/her physician and nurse measure pain.
- Tell the physician or nurse if pain is not relieved.
TOP Advance Directives/Ethical Issues
Advance directives for medical care such as Living Wills or the designation of a surrogate decision-maker are respected to the extent provided by law. Each patient can expect to be asked about his/her advance directives and/or given information upon admission or request.
If a patient wishes to formulate an advance directive or would like to review or revise a current advance directive, the Hospital will provide any assistance necessary.
A patient or his/her designated representative has the right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in the care being provided.
Refusal of Treatment
A patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. This right includes forgoing or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment or withholding resuscitative services. In the event that the patient is not legally responsible, the surrogate decision maker has the right to make such decisions on the patient’s behalf as allowed by law. A patient also has the right to refuse to participate in research investigation or clinical trials without limitation.
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Confidential Records and Information
A patient has the right to expect that all communication and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential. A patient can also expect that access to his/her own records will be possible within a reasonable period of time. All patients will be provided with the Hospital’s Notice of Privacy Practices and will be requested to sign an acknowledgment of receipt upon admission. For detailed information, please refer to the Notice of Privacy Practices.
Protective Services
The Hospital, when requested by the patient and/or family, will assist with the obtaining of special services, i.e., guardianship, advocacy services, or child or adult protective services.
Restraint Use
A patient has the right to be free of the use of restraints unless clinically necessary.
Financial Information
A patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of the source of payment.
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Request for Services
A patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity, the Hospital must make reasonable response to the request of a patient for service. The Hospital must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for, and alternatives to, such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
A patient has the right to expect that the Hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed by his/her physician of continuing health care requirements following discharge.
Patient Responsibility
A patient must observe the rules of the Hospital and give accurate and complete information in order to assist in his/her diagnosis and treatment. He/she should report any changes in his/her condition which may affect treatment or care. A patient is also responsible for acknowledging when he/she does not understand a contemplated course of treatment or care decision.
A patient is responsible for the payment of the Hospital charges for medical care. The Hospital offers assistance in the presentation of claims to insurance plans providing benefits to the patient.
Each patient must consider the rights of other patients and of Hospital personnel. All share the responsibility for use of Hospital property.
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Policy of Service Without Discrimination
It is the policy of Southeast Missouri Hospital and its affiliates to provide medical services to ALL patients, without regard to race, age, color, sex, handicap, disability, religion, national origin, or ability to pay. Southeast Missouri Hospital and its affiliated services will take such steps as are necessary to insure that handicapped persons, including those with impaired sensory or speaking skills, receive the same services as those persons who do not have handicaps. All aids needed for this service are provided without cost to the person being served.
Any person who believes he/she has been subjected to discrimination may file a grievance with the Hospital President/Chief Operating Officer or the director of any affiliated service. It is against the law for Southeast Missouri Hospital and its affiliated services to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.
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Policy for Addressing Patient Care Complaints/Grievances
A patient can expect to voice complaints or recommend changes without being subjected to coercion, discrimination, reprisal, or unreasonable interruption of care, treatment, and services.
The Hospital defines complaints as an expression of displeasure with a process or person. A complaint can be addressed immediately by staff and does not require a written or formal response.
A patient has the right to file a grievance – either verbal or written. A grievance can be filed by a patient when a patient issue cannot be resolved promptly by staff present. Grievances will be investigated and normally responded to within seven (7) days of receipt by the Hospital. At times the investigative process and response may take longer, in which case the patient will be informed of any delay.
Grievances should be brought to the attention of the Hospital’s Quality Management Department. Quality Management staff can be reached from within the Hospital at extension 5557. If calling from outside the Hospital, the number is (573) 651-5557.
Mailing Address: Quality Management Department
Southeast Missouri Hospital
1701 Lacey Street
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Patient and families wishing to file a grievance with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services may do so by writing or calling:
State of Missouri
Department of Health Facility Regulations
912 Wildwood Drive
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
The toll-free number for the Department of Health Facility Regulations is 1-800-392-0210.
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