PATIENT RIGHTS
Highland-Clarksburg Hospital supports the following rights for each patient:
Considerate and Respectful Care
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To receive ethical, high-quality, safe and professional care without discrimination.
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To be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
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To be treated with consideration, respect and recognition of their individuality, including the need for privacy in treatment.
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Information regarding Health Status and Care
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To be informed of his/her health status in terms that patient can reasonably be expected to understand, and to participate in the development and the implementation of his/her plan of care and treatment.
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The right to be informed of the names and functions of all physicians and other health care professionals who are providing direct care to the patient.
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The right to be informed about any continuing health care requirements after his/her discharge from the hospital. The patient shall also have the right to receive assistance from the physician and appropriate hospital staff in arranging for required follow-up care after discharge.
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To be informed of risks, benefits and side effects of all medications and treatment procedures, particularly those considered innovative or experimental.
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To be informed of the outcomes of care, treatment and services.
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To appropriate assessment and management of pain.
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To be informed if the hospital has authorized other health care and/or education institutions to participate in the patient’s treatment. The patient shall also have a right to know the identity and function of these institutions, and may refuse to allow their participation in his/her treatment.
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Decision Making and Notification
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To choose a person to be his/her healthcare representative and/or decision maker. The patient may also exercise his/her right to exclude any family members from participating in his/her healthcare decisions.
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To have a family member, chosen representative and/or his or her own physician notified promptly of admission to the hospital.
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To request or refuse treatment. This right must not be construed as a mechanism to demand the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary or inappropriate.
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To be included in experimental research only when he or she gives informed, written consent to such participation. The patient may refuse to participate in experimental research, including the investigations of new drugs and medical devices.
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To formulate advance directives and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
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To leave the healthcare facility against one’s physician’s advice to the extent permitted by law.
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Access to Services
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To receive, as soon as possible, the free services of a translator and/or interpreter, telecommunications devices, and any other necessary services or devices to facilitate communication between the patient and the hospitals’ health care personnel (e.g., qualified interpreters, written information in other languages, large print, accessible electronic formats).
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To pastoral counseling and to take part in religious and/or social activities while in the hospital, unless one’s doctor thinks these activities are not medically advised.
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To safe, secure and sanitary accommodation and a nourishing, well-balanced and varied diet.
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To access people outside the facility by means of verbal and written communication.
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To have accessibility to facility buildings and grounds.
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To a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests for service.
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Access to Medical Records
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To have his/her medical records, including all computerized medical information, kept confidential and to access information within a reasonable time frame. The patient may decide who may receive copies of the records except as required by law.
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Upon leaving the healthcare facility, patients have the right to obtain copies of their medical records.
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Protective Services
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To access protective and advocacy services.
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To be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
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The patient who receives treatment for mental illness or developmental disability, in addition to the rights listed herein, has the rights provided by any applicable state law.
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To all legal and civil rights as a citizen unless otherwise prescribed by law.
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To an impartial review of alleged violations of patient rights.
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To expect emergency procedures to be carried out without unnecessary delay.
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To give consent to a procedure or treatment and to access the information necessary to provide such consent.
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To not be required to perform work for the facility unless the work is part of the patient’s treatment and is done by choice of the patient.
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To file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Resources or other quality improvement, accreditation or other certifying bodies if he /she has a concern about patient abuse, neglect, about misappropriation of a patient’s property in the facility or other unresolved complaint, patient safety or quality concern. You can file a complaint verbally or in writing to the Hospital Compliance Department or the Hospital CEO. The Hospital employs a patient advocate available to address concerns and/or questions.
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Payment and Administration
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To examine and receive an explanation of the patient’s healthcare facility’s bill regardless of source of payment, and may receive upon request, information relating to the availability of known financial resources.
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A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
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To receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
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To be informed in writing about the facility policies and procedures for initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints, including the address and telephone number of where complaints may be filed.
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Additional Patient Rights
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Except in emergencies, the patient may be transferred to another facility only with a full explanation of the reason for transfer, provisions for continuing care and acceptance by the receiving institution.
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To get the opinion of another physician, including specialists, at the request and expense of the patient.
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To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
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Visitation Rights
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To be informed of their visitation rights, including any clinical restriction or limitation of their visitation rights.
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To designate visitors, including but not limited to a spouse, domestic partner (including same sex), family members and friends. These visitors will be not restricted or otherwise denied visitation privileges on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability. All visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with any necessary or other reasonable restriction or limitation that facilities may need to place on such rights.
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To receive visits from one’s attorney, physician, or clergyperson at any reasonable time.
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To refuse visitors.
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Patient Responsibilities:
In addition to the above rights, a patient has the following responsibilities during the course of care:
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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.
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To report unexpected changes in your condition to those responsible for your care.
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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.
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To follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care.
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To accept full responsibility for your decision and your health care if you refuse treatment.
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To pay your Hospital bill promptly and to supply us with necessary health insurance information.
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To follow the Hospital’s rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
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To respect the property of others and of the Hospital.
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To respect the individuality of others including racial, ethnic and cultural differences.
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To report your pain and to discuss with the doctors/nurses any concerns you may have about pain.
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To take reasonable care of your own valuables and other possessions.
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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.
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Highland-Clarksburg Hospital Compliance Department
3 Hospital Plaza
Clarksburg WV 26301
304-969-3199
https://highlandclarksburghospital.com
Office of Health Facilities and Licensure
1 Davis Square, Suite 101
Charleston WV 25301
304-558-0050
The Joint Commission
Mail: Office of Quality and Patient Safety
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Online: