Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Hospitals of Steward Health Care System support the following rights for each patient:

The right to receive considerate, respectful and compassionate care in a safe setting regardless of your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities.
The right of each patient to a reasonable response to his/her requests and needs for treatment or services within the hospital’s capacity, its stated mission, and applicable laws and regulations.
The right of each patient to obtain a copy of any rules and regulations of the Hospital which apply to a person’s conduct as a patient.
The right of each patient to considerate and respectful care, including consideration of the psychosocial, spiritual and cultural values that influence the perception of illness.
The right of each patient to privacy during medical care, within the Hospital’s capacity to provide it, and to receive care in a safe setting, free from any form of abuse, neglect or harassment.
The right of the patient to receive the name and specialty of any individual responsible for the care or the coordination of care upon request.
The right of each patient to obtain an explanation as to the relationship, if any, of the Hospital and its physicians to any other health care facility or educational institution insofar as the relationship relates to the patient’s care or treatment.
The right of each patient to refuse to be examined, observed or treated by students or other Hospital staff without jeopardizing the patient’s access to medical care.
The right of each patient to receive prompt life-saving treatment in an emergency without discrimination on account of economic status or source of payment and without delaying treatment for purposes of determining insurance information, unless such delay can be imposed without material risk to the patient’s health. This right extends to all patients, including persons accessing care through the Emergency Department.
The right of each patient to the confidentiality of his or her medical information. The patient or the patient’s legal representative will have access to the information contained within his or her medical record within the limits of the law.
The right of each patient to refuse the removal of clothing.
The right of the patient suffering from breast cancer to receive complete information on the alternative treatments, which are medically viable.
The right of the patient to refuse to serve as a research subject, and to refuse any care or examination when the primary goal is educational or informational rather than therapeutic. No patient will participate as a research subject without his or her written consent.
The right of each patient to receive effective management of pain.
The right, if you are a maternity patient, if applicable, to receive information about the Hospital’s rate of cesarean sections and related statistics.
The right of each victim of sexual assault to be provided with medically and factually accurate written information prepared by the commissioner about emergency contraception.
The right of each female rape victim of childbearing age who presents at this hospital after a rape to be provided with medically and factually accurate written information prepared by the commissioner about emergency contraception.
The right of each female rape victim of childbearing age who presents to the emergency department after a rape will be offered emergency contraception.
The right of each female rape victim of childbearing age who presents to the emergency department after rape will receive initial emergency contraception upon request.
The right of each patient, or patient’s representative, in collaboration with his or her physician, to participate in the development and implementation of the care plan, inpatient and outpatient, and including as applicable a discharge plan and pain management plan, and to make health care decisions to the extent permitted by law.
The right of each patient to obtain information necessary, such as diagnosis, possible prognosis, benefits and risks to enable the patient to make treatment decisions that reflect the patient’s wishes.
The right of each patient to know in advance who will perform each treatment or procedure and to request another physician or health care provider for treatment or consultation.
The right of the patient (or the patient-designated representative) to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in the care of the patient.
The right of the patient to formulate advanced directives and to appoint a surrogate or health care agent (proxy) to make health care decisions in the event that the patient becomes unable to do so.
The provision of care is not conditioned on the existence of an advance directive.
The right of the patient to accept or refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the consequences of such refusal.
The right of each patient to request and receive from Patient Access Services any information the Hospital has available relative to financial assistance and eligibility for free hospital care.
The right for each patient to receive upon request an itemized bill or other statements of charges submitted to any third party by the Hospital, and to have a copy of the itemized bill or statement sent to your attending physician.
The right of all patients and their families requiring language interpretation or translation, those requiring large print/ Braille/audio videotape, and those requiring assistance with listening devices or those with other special needs, to receive such services and materials in a timely manner at no additional cost to the patient.
The right to be free from restraints or seclusion in any form that is not medically necessary.
The right to have someone of your choice remain with you for emotional support during your hospital stay or outpatient visit, unless your visitor’s presence compromises your or other’s rights, safety or health. You have the right to deny visitation at any time.
The right of the patient to have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her own private physician notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.
The right to voice your concerns about the care you receive. If you have a problem or complaint, you may talk to your doctor, nurse manager or a department manager. You may also contact the Hospital president or patient advocate. You have the right to be informed of the process around complaint resolution.
You have the right to give or refuse consent for recordings, photographs, films, or other images to be produced or used for internal or external purposes other than identification, diagnosis, or treatment. You have the right to withdraw consent up until a reasonable time before the item is used.

Patient Responsibilities:

To provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present symptoms, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
To report unexpected changes in your condition to those responsible for your care.
To understand your health care. If you are unclear about either your condition or medical treatment, please ask your physician or another staff member to discuss them with you.
To follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care.
To accept full responsibility for your decision and your health care if you refuse treatment.
To pay your Hospital bill promptly and to supply us with necessary health insurance information.
To follow the Hospital’s rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct, including the “smoking” policy.
To be considerate of the rights of other patients and the Hospital personnel by assisting in the control of the noise and the number of your visitors and allowing your roommates and other patients privacy and quiet.
To respect the property of others and of the Hospital.
To respect the individuality of others including racial, ethnic and cultural differences.
To report your pain and to discuss with the doctors/nurses any concerns you may have about pain.
To take reasonable care of your own valuables and other possessions.
To understand that physicians (includes persons employed by physicians such as mid-level providers) on the staff at this hospital, including my attending physician, may not be an employee or agent of the hospital and that the hospital cannot be held responsible for any actions related to a physician’s medical decision making specific to my care while at the hospital.

Health Care Proxy & Anatomical Donations

Health Care Proxy (agent)

The Health Care Proxy (agent) is a simple legal document that allows you to name someone you know and trust to make health care decisions for you if, for any reason and at any time, you become unable to make or communicate those decisions. For more information or assistance in completing the Health Care Proxy form, call the hospital’s patient advocate or a member of care management.

Anatomical Donations

State and Federal regulation require all acute care hospitals to offer patients and families the opportunity for organ and tissue donation.

Complaint and Grievance Process

CMS §482.13(a)(2) – CMS requires every hospital to establish a process for prompt resolution of patient grievances and must inform each patient whom to contact to file a grievance.
Grievance – A written or verbal complaint by a patient, or a patient’s representative, regarding patient’s quality of care, abuse or neglect, issues related to the hospital’s compliance with the CMS Conditions of Participation or accrediting organization standards, or a Medicare beneficiary billing complaint related to rights and limitations.

Patient Advocate
Laura Olague Swatzell
432-268-4526
[email protected]

Concerns

You, your family, your significant other or your guardian have the right to tell us when something is wrong. This is called presenting a complaint. If you present a complaint, your care will not be affected in any way. If you have a problem that you cannot solve with your doctor, nurse or other caregivers, please call and ask for the Patient Advocate’s Office or the President’s Office.

If you send a complaint by fax, email or written letter, the patient advocate will acknowledge your communication within two business days.

The patient advocate will contact you, review your complaint, and make every effort to resolve your concerns at that time. The patient advocate will work with other members of the hospital to review and resolve your complaint in a timely manner. Usually, this is completed within seven days; but if it is not resolved, the patient advocate will contact you directly to discuss the current status of your complaint. A letter will be sent to you that will include the name of the hospital contact, steps taken for the review, results of the review, and the completion date.

You may also contact:

DNV Healthcare USA Inc.
Attention: Hospital Complaints
1400 Ravello Dr
Katy, TX 77449
[email protected]
1-866-496-9647

In addition, each Medicare beneficiary who is an inpatient will be provided a standardized notice, “An Important Message from Medicare” upon admission and within two days of discharge. This document should be reviewed, signed and dated by the Medicare beneficiary. As a Medicare recipient, you have the right to discuss any concerns around quality of care of services to the patient representative. Additionally, if you are not satisfied, you have the right to contact the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization: 1-866-815-5440, TTY: 1-800-735-2989

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities.

Ver esta información en Español.

You have the right to:

Be treated in a dignified and respectful manner and to receive reasonable responses to reasonable requests for service.
To effective communication that provides information in a manner you understand, in your preferred language with provisions of interpreting or translation services, at no cost, and in a manner that meets your needs in the event of vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments. Information should be provided in easy to understand terms that will allow you to formulate informed consent.
Respect for your cultural and personal values, beliefs and preferences.
Personal privacy, privacy of your health information and to receive a notice of the facility’s privacy practices.
Pain management.
Accommodation for your religious and other spiritual services.
To access, request amendment to and obtain information on disclosures of your health information in accordance with law and regulation within a reasonable time frame.
To have a family member, friend or other support individual to be present with you during the course of your stay, unless that person’s presence infringes on others’ rights, safety or is medically contraindicated.
Care or services provided without discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
Participate in decisions about your care, including developing your treatment plan, discharge planning and having your family and personal physician promptly notified of your admission.
Select providers of goods and services to be received after discharge.
Refuse care, treatment or services in accordance with law and regulation and to leave the facility against advice of the physician.
Have a surrogate decision-maker participate in care, treatment and services decisions when you are unable to make your own decisions.
Receive information about the outcomes of your care, treatment and services, including unanticipated outcomes.
Give or withhold informed consent when making decisions about your care, treatment and services.
Receive information about benefits, risks, side effects to proposed care, treatment and services; the likelihood of achieving your goals and any potential problems that might occur during recuperation from proposed care, treatment and service and any reasonable alternatives to the care, treatment and services proposed.
Give or withhold informed consent to recordings, filming or obtaining images of you for any purpose other than your care.
Participate in or refuse to participate in research, investigation or clinical trials without jeopardizing your access to care and services unrelated to the research.
Know the names of the practitioner who has primary responsibility for your care, treatment or services and the names of other practitioners providing your care.
Formulate advance directives concerning care to be received at end-of-life and to have those advance directives honored to the extent of the facility’s ability to do so in accordance with law and regulation. You also have the right to review or revise any advance directives.
Be free from neglect; exploitation; and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse.
An environment that is safe, preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
Be free from any forms of restraint or seclusion used as a means of convenience, discipline, coercion or retaliation; and to have the least restrictive method of restraint or seclusion used only when necessary to ensure patient safety.
Access protective and advocacy services and to receive a list of such groups upon your request.
Receive the visitors whom you designate, including but not limited to a spouse, a domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend. You may deny or withdraw your consent to receive any visitor at any time. To the extent this facility places limitations or restrictions on visitation; you have the right to set any preference of order or priority for your visitors to satisfy those limitations or restrictions.
Examine and receive an explanation of the bill for services, regardless of the source of payment.

You have the responsibility to:

Provide accurate and complete information concerning your present medical condition, past illnesses or hospitalization and any other matters concerning your health.
Tell your caregivers if you do not completely understand your plan of care.
Follow the caregivers’ instructions.
Follow all medical center policies and procedures while being considerate of the rights of other patients, medical center employees and medical center properties.

You also have the right to:

Lodge a concern with the state, whether you have used the hospital’s grievance process or not. If you have concerns regarding the quality of your care, coverage decisions or want to appeal a premature discharge, contact the State Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

Quality Improvement Organization

Phone: 216-447-9604
Toll Free: 844-430-9504
Fax: 844-878-7921
Mail: KEPRO
5700 Lombardo Center Dr.
Suite 100
Seven Hills, OH 44131

If you have a Medicare complaint you may contact:

Texas Department of State Health Services

Phone: 512-834-6700
Mail: Texas Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714-9347

Regarding problem resolution, you have the right to:

Express your concerns about patient care and safety to facility personnel and/or management without being subject to coercion, discrimination, reprisal or unreasonable interruption of care; and to be informed of the resolution process for your concerns. If your concerns and questions cannot be resolved at this level, contact the accrediting agency indicated below:

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