Trinity Medical Center has adopted the following policy of patient rights and responsibilities with the expectation that observance of these rights will contribute to more effective patient care and greater satisfaction for the patient, significant other, his/her physician, and the hospital organization.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• Be treated with respect and compassion
• Proper treatment for your health condition no matter what your race, creed, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, diagnosis or sources of payment for care.
• Know the identity of doctors, nurses and others involved in your care. You also have the right to know when they are students, residents or other trainees.
• Be told about your medical condition, treatment, and outlook in terms that you can understand.
• Make choices about your own care, including the right to request care.
• Expect we will listen to and address your pain concerns.
• Say no to care as allowed by law.
• Have your family or caregiver notified of your admission to the hospital.
• Have your personal physician notified of your admission to the hospital to the hospital.
• Make an advance directive, including living will and/or power of attorney for health care. The hospital will ask you about this when you are admitted. You also have the right for your caregivers to follow your advance directive.
• Privacy of your medical records and details about your care.
• Look at you medical records.
• Personal privacy.
• Safety while in the hospital. If anything unexpected and significant happens during your hospital stay, you will be told what happened, and any resulting changes in your care will be discussed with you.   
• Be free from the use of seclusion and restraint unless clinically necessary and least restrictive interventions have been determined ineffective.
• Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
• Be told of business ties between the hospital and other caregivers.
• Know that the hospital will give you the best care it can. You may be asked to move to another hospital or place of treatment. If so, you will be told your choices and what could happen with those choices.
• Say yes or not to being a part of research.
• Be told about how to continue your care upon discharge from the hospital.
• Be told of the hospital’s rules.
• Be told about your visitation rights. Visitation will not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.  You have the right to receive visitors of your choosing. 
• Receive a copy of your bill.
• Be told of how and to whom you may voice a complaint.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Letting the hospital know about any medicines you are taking at home, your medical history and present medical problems. You should tell your doctors or nurses about any changes to your medical problems while you are in the hospital. This includes telling your doctors or nurses if you are in pain.
• Giving the hospital a copy of your advance directive, if you have one.
• Asking questions when you or your family do not understand what you have been told about your medical condition, your treatment, or what you should do to care for yourself.
• Knowing and following hospital rules as outlined in the Patient Guide.
• Following instructions, including your plan of care as developed by your health care team. Your plan of care includes the effect of lifestyle on your health. You are also responsible for accepting the consequences of not getting treatment or not following the instructions of your caregivers.
• Showing respect for other patients and the hospital staff. This includes treating hospital belongings with respect.
• Paying your hospital bill. This includes giving the hospital correct information about your insurance or your way of paying your bill.

These rights and responsibilities can and should be exercised on the patient’s behalf by a parent, guardian, designated surrogate, or proxy decision-maker if the patient lacks decision-making capacity, is legally incompetent or is a minor.