Patient Information

Patient Infomation

PATIENT'S RIGHTS

As a patient you are entitled to be treated with respect. We enthusiastically endorse the Patient's Bill of Rights adopted by the American Hospital Association. This is to inform you, or when appropriate, your representative, of your rights. As a patient you, or your representative, have the right to:

Be informed of your rights and have a written notice of your Rights and Responsibilities, which will be provided upon admission, in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care, whenever possible. In the event that you are unable to be informed of your rights, your representative will be informed. If requested an interpreter will be provided if you are unable to speak English.
Refuse treatment, to the extent permitted by law, and be informed of the medical consequences of your actions.
Make decisions regarding your care and the right to formulate Advance Directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with those directives.
Have a representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital. It is your responsibility to notify the hospital staff as to who these persons are.
Personal privacy and confidentiality regarding information about your health, social, or financial circumstances and be assured confidential treatment of personal and medical records, and to approve or refuse the release to any individual, except in the case of transfer to another health facility, or as required by law or third party contract.
Courteous, respectful treatment, including personnel privacy and privacy during procedures and the right to be provided competent, quality care that is given with dignity. Discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatments are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in your care must have your permission to be present.
The confidentiality of your record and the right to access information contained in your clinical records within a reasonable time frame.
Receive care in a safe setting and to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
Be free from both physical restraints and drugs that are used as a restraint that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
Be free from unlawful discrimination because of race, creed, color, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, and diagnosis.
Obtain from your physician, adequate information concerning your status, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, in terms you can reasonably be expected to understand and you have the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for coordinating your care. You also have the right to be able to talk freely to your physician.
Receive, from your physician, information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment and the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedures and/or treatments. Except in emergency situations, this information shall include the specific procedures and/or treatments, along with the medically significant risks involved, the benefit of the procedure and/or treatment and the probable length of recovery. When medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, you have the right to such information.
Be involved in care planning and treatment that may specifically include pain management and to be informed, in advance, of the right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care, treatment, and discharge planning. When it is not medically advisable to give information to you, the information should be provided to an appropriate person acting on your behalf.
Expect that, within its capacity and policies, the hospital will make reasonable responses to your requests for appropriate and medically indicated care and services.
Be provided with evaluations, services, and/or referrals as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible or when you request a transfer, you may be transferred to another facility only after you have received complete information and explanations concerning the need, risks, benefits, and alternatives to such transfer. The facility to which you are being transferred must first have accepted you.
Obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals, by name, which are treating or caring for you.
Be advised if the Hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment, you have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects. The patient's or patient's legal guardian's written consent is required.
Request reasonable continuity of care.
Know in advance, what appropriate times and physicians are available and where and to expect that the Hospital will provide you with a mechanism whereby your physician informs you, or someone designated by your physician, of your continuing health care requirements following discharge.
Examine and receive an explanation of your Hospital bill regardless of the source of payment.
Timely notice prior to termination of your eligibility for coverage by any third party payer or insurance company for the cost of your care, to the extent you have notified the Hospital of your insurance coverage and the company notifies the Hospital of termination of eligibility.
Voice complaints/grievances regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished, or regarding lack of respect for the individual, furnishing services on behalf of the Hospital and must not be subject to discrimination or reprisal for doing so. If you desire to file a complaint/grievance, the process is as follows:

Notify the nursing services administrator, Brenda Bergholm, R.N., or the chief executive officer, John Hoopes, either verbally or in writing. One of these people will work to resolve the problem to your satisfaction. You will need to provide the name(s) of the person(s) that can be contacted regarding the complaint/grievance. You will be provided with specific time frames, resolution dates, and responses as required by law.

If at this level, the complaint/grievance is still not handled to your satisfaction, the patient or representative may present the complaint/grievance to the Hospital's Quality Assurance Committee, to which the Hospital Board of Directors has formally delegated authority to resolve patient complaints/grievances. To access this committee, you or your representative must submit the complaint/grievance in writing, addressed to the Quality Assurance Committee at the Hospital. The Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month, at noon. The patient will receive a written response from the Committee within ten (10) days following the meeting.

You also have a right to file a complaint with the Idaho Bureau of Facility Standards, 450 W. State Street, Boise, Idaho 83720, Phone: (208) 334-6626.

PATIENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES

As a patient you also have responsibilities. You are responsible for:
Maintaining open and candid communication with your caregivers.
Being completely honest about matters that relate to you as a patient.
Reporting changes in your condition to those responsible for your care and welfare.
Honoring and maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of others.
Informing caregivers about and Advance Directives and provide a copy of it to the hospital.
Following the hospital's rules and regulations affecting your care and conduct.
Complying with the directions and instructions of your care givers.
Respecting the rights of others, including, but not limited to other patients and health care providers.
Assuring that all your financial obligations are met in a timely manner. You are personally responsible to see that the cost of your care at the Hospital is fully paid, either by you or your insurer, in a timely manner. The Hospital bills insurance companies as a courtesy to its patients. The patient is legally responsible to pay the Hospital bill. If you cannot afford to pay for the cost of your care, please inform the Business Office at the Hospital as soon as possible because there may be alternative sources of financial assistance for people who cannot afford the cost of care and we will be happy to help you, but we must know that you need assistance.

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