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stj medical library

St. John's Regional Medical Center
St. John's Medical Group
St. John's WorkPartners
St. John's Maude Norton Memorial Hospital
HealthFirst
Other Affiliates

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

The following statements are not intended to be all-inclusive, but to convey St. John’s concern about the relationship between the Medical Center and our patients.

You, the patient, have the right to.......

  1. Personal privacy and to be treated with respect and courtesy;
  2. Receive care that is given without discrimination as to race, color, religion, mental or physical capacity, sex, national origin, values, beliefs, or ability to pay;
  3. Select and see your doctor when you are a patient, to know the identiy of any person involved in your care, and to select those who care for you after leaving the hospital;
  4. Take part in the planning of your care, resolving of ethical questions, and to receive instruction and education about your care plan;
  5. Receive information about your condition, prospect of recovery, treatment and treatment choices, risks involved in treatment choices, and to request an additional opinion;
  6. Consent to or refuse treatment to the extent allowed by law, including options to forgo life sustaining or resuscitative services, complete an Advance Directive, and to designate a surrogate decision maker to speak on your behalf;
  7. Receive information regarding unanticipated outcomes of treatment;
  8. Expect care in a safe setting, free from abuse, neglect, harassment or exploitation and to access advocacy services;
  9. Be free from restraint and seclusion of any form that is not medically necessary or used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff;
  10. Expect reasonable protection for personal possessions entrusted to the hospital for safekeeping; and to have access to your possessions;
  11. Access your medical record and have all your information held in confidence;
  12. Be referred elsewhere for care if the receiving facility will accept you;
  13. Voice concerns about your care and suggest changes in service, physician, or staff without fear of discrimination;
  14. Receive information about your hospital bill, including if you qualify for health care coverage, and be given timely notice before the end of coverage;
  15. Consent or refuse to take part in research affecting your care or treatment, if applicable;
  16. Receive information about pain and pain relief measures and expect a reasonable response to your reports of pain;
  17. Express your spiritual beliefs and cultural practices as long as they do not harm others or interfere with treatment;
  18. File a grievance and be informed of the process to review and address the grievance.

As a patient, you are expected to.....

  1. Provide accurate and complete information about your medical history, any existing Advance Directive, current condition, and changes during your stay;
  2. Follow the treatment plan you have agreed to and be responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow instructions;
  3. Make arrangements to pay your hospital bill as soon as possible;
  4. Follow hospital rules and show respect for the rights and property of other people and the hospital;
  5. Provide for the safekeeping of your personal possessions not entrusted to the hospital;
  6. Tell your doctor or nurse when you are experiencing pain, discuss pain relief and work with them to measure and relieve your pain;
  7. Ask questions if you do not understand your plan of care.