Statement of Patient Rights

A Patient’s Bill of Rights was first adopted by the American Hospital Association in 1973. This revision was approved by the AHA Board of Trustees on October 21, 1992 and is included in OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center’s “Advanced Directives.”

1.	The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.
2.	The patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonable alternatives and the accompanying risks and benefits. Patients have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses and others involved in their care, as well as when those involved are students, residents or other trainees. The patient also has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.
3.	The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or transfer to another hospital. The hospital should notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within the institution.
4.	The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, healthcare proxy, or durable power of attorney for healthcare) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy. Healthcare institutions must advise patients of their rights under state law and hospital policy to make informed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive, and include that information in patient records. The patient has the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit its ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.
5.	The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment should be conducted so as to protect each patient’s privacy.
6.	The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.
7.	The patient has the right to review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.
8.	The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risks, benefits and alternatives to such a transfer.
9.	The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, other healthcare providers or payers that may influence the patient’s treatment and care.
10.	The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.
11.	The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
12.	The patient has the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment and responsibilities. The patient has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives, or other mechanisms available in the institution. The patient has the right to be informed of the hospital’s charges for services and available payment methods.
13.	The patient has the right to safety during the hospital stay. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has a plan which is constantly reviewed to ensure that processes and systems are in place to provide patient safety. The patient has the ;right to have unexpected outcomes or adverse events occurring during the hospital stay to be explained in a timely fashion.

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

This statement is a reaffirmation of the ongoing purpose of this health care facility to promote Christian community and enhance the dignity of men by providing optional health care services and programs to people being served. This facility recognizes the inherent rights of patients to appropriate information regarding their care. The patient should understand, however, that the nature of content and scope of the information supplied by his physician rests in the sound professional judgment and discretion of his physician.

Recognizing the above stated rights, the patient has a corresponding responsibility to bring to the attention of the appropriate person or persons in the institution these occasions when in his opinion these rights are not being respected. It then becomes the responsibility of the hospital to see to it that effective mechanism exists to take corrective action when necessary. In addition, the patient has the responsibility to cooperate in the treatment program specified by his physician and to respect the rights of other patients who are also receiving treatment in this hospital. The patient has the responsibility to know and observe the policies and procedures established by this hospital in the best interests of all patients being served.

As part of the total resources of the health care facility, the organized medical staff is accountable for its role in insuring the patients' rights are respected through a specific mechanism in the institution's medical staff organization. The medical staff bylaws, as approved by the board of trustees, include provisions for delineating the authority and responsibility of the medical staff organization in respecting this statement of patient rights. Physicians practicing in the hospital are granted privileges, within the contexts of the philosophy of a Catholic health care facility. These privileges include the physician's right to exercise medical judgment in the interest of the patient and the responsibility to be guided by this statement of rights of patients. General hospital policies and procedures which involve all employees are developed to insure the protection of the patient's rights in the contexts of the corporate obligations and moral and religious beliefs of a Catholic health care facility (American Hospital Association, 1972).

STUDENT CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
Before participating as a practice partner, each student shall sign a consent form giving consent to be a practice subject for assigned supervised learning procedures. By signing the consent form, the student also releases classmates, faculty, College of Nursing, and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center from any liability.

Students serving as subjects and/or practitioners will maintain confidentiality of findings encountered during practice procedures. Consent forms and Confidentiality statements will be filed in the Office of Student Services.