Patient Rights and Responsibilities

• Receive information in an understandable manner.
• Allow a family member, friend, or other individual to be present for emotional support.
• To receive or deny visitors including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex partner), another family member, and/or a friend.
• Reasonable access of care, services, and treatments that is considerate of your cultural, psychosocial, religious, spiritual, personal values, beliefs, preferences, and effective communication needs and services. The hospital staff treats you in a dignified, respectful manner and respects your right to privacy and provides an environment that contributes to a positive self-image.
• Prompt notification of admission to your physician and family member or representative of choice.
• The hospital provides language interpreting and translation services.
• The hospital provides information to the patient who has vision, speech, hearing, or cognitive impairments in a manner that meets the patient’s needs.
• Expect within the capacity of Witham Health Services, a reasonable request for care. When medically necessary, you may be transferred to another facility. This facility must first accept the transfer. Patients have a right to the complete explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives of such a transfer.
• Be free from mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harassment as well as free from discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical and/or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
• A safe environment of care that follows the National Patient Safety Standards:
  • Verification of patient identification.
  • Verification of correct treatment / procedure site.
  • Assurance that clinical alarms and equipment are safe and effective.
  • Safe medication administration and reconciliation.
  • Compliance by staff to reduce the risk of healthcare acquired infections.
  • Effective communication by caregiver(s).
• Make informed decisions regarding care, treatment, and services, and to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment.
• The hospital involves your family in care, treatment, and service decisions to the extent permitted by the patient/surrogate decision maker.
• Give or withhold informed consent for treatment and/or any recording/imaging for purposes other than identification, diagnosis, or treatment.
• The hospital considers patients’ privacy and complies with law and regulation when making and using recordings, films, or other images of patients.
• Be informed about:
  • The nature of the illness.
  • The recommended treatment plan or procedures.
  • The assessment and management of pain, including the potential limitations and side effects of the pain treatment.
  • The medical/financial consequences and alternative care services that Witham Health Services may provide in the event particular medical care is refused.
  • The proposed plan of care, services, or treatment requiring informed consent and the process used to obtain and document the plan.
  • The identity and credentials of health care providers including those responsible for and those providing care, treatment, and services.
  • The anticipated and unanticipated outcomes of care, treatment, and services that may include Sentinel Events.
  • Any research, investigation, clinical trials considered in care, services or treatment; an explanation of the purpose of the research; the expected duration of participation; procedures to be followed; potential benefits, risks, discomforts, side effects; and alternative care, treatment, and services available that might prove advantageous. Refusal to participate or discontinuing participation at any time, will not compromise access to care, treatment, and services.
  • Access to the Ethics Committee that is available to assist with ethical concerns.

  • Witham Health Services’ policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment, and responsibilities.

  • The existence of any business relationships between the hospital, educational institutions, or other health care providers or payers that may influence treatment/care.
  • End-of-Life decisions such as Advance Directives, use of or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment, withholding resuscitative services, and organ donation in a written format. You also have the right to review/revise the Directives. The existence or lack of an advance directive does not determine the patient’s right to access care, treatment, and services.
• Be free from seclusion and/or restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
  Personal privacy, confidentiality, and security concerning all areas of communication (including the right to send and receive mail promptly), records, and environment of your care in accordance with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Have Advance Directives: Living Will, Health Care Proxy, or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Assistance to formulate an Advance Directive, if needed, will be provided. The Advance Directive is in effect only when the patient is unable to speak for themselves, or when the physician determines that the patient is no longer able to understand enough to make their own treatment decisions. It is expected healthcare providers will provide care complying with these Directives.
• The hospital provides the patient or surrogate decision-maker with written information about the right to refuse care, treatment, and services.
• Expect that an appropriate decision maker, guardian, or patient surrogate will be sought in the event you are not able to understand a proposed treatment or procedure or are not able to communicate your wishes regarding care and do not have an Advance Directive.
• Receive physical and spiritual support during times of illness and through the dying process in a safe and respectful manner.
• Expect reasonable continuum of care when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
• Request and receive an explanation of billable services, regardless of source of payment.
• Access, request amendment to, and obtain information on disclosures of your health information in accordance with law and regulations.
• Be informed about the procedure to voice and resolve complaints and an objective review of the complaint. The director of each department is available to address your concerns during business hours Monday through Friday. If the department director is not available, or if you feel that your concern was not adequately addressed, you may contact the Executive Officer or Chief Operations Officer by calling the Administration Department. As a patient you have the right to lodge a grievance with:
  • Witham Health Services Administration
    2605 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon, IN 46052
    765-485-8000
  • Indiana Healthcare Hotline
    Indiana State Department of Health
    2 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
    800-227-6334
  • The Joint Commission
    One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
    800-994-6610
• Access to information about Adult/Child Protective Services in the event there is a need for protective intervention.
  • Adult/Child Protective Services
    200 E. Washington Street, Suite 560, Indianapolis, IN 46204
    800-992-6978

PATIENT / SURROGATE DECISION MAKER RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of the patient and/or surrogate decision maker to:

• Provide complete and accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, Advance Directives, organ donation wishes, and other health information.
• Follow hospital policies, rules, and regulations concerning patient care and maintaining a safe environment.
• Report perceived risks in your/patient’s care and unexpected changes in your/patient’s condition.
• Help the hospital improve your/patient’s environment by providing feedback about the service needs and expectations.
• Ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told concerning your/patient’s care, treatment, or service designated by the physician; which may include the instructions by nurses or other health care professionals who are carrying out the physician’s orders.
• Follow the treatment and care plan developed or understand the consequences of an altered treatment plan(s) when the proposed plan of care is not followed and to accept the outcome when you/patient so choose not to follow the prescribed treatment and care plan.
• Provide necessary information assuring that the financial obligation is met in a timely manner.
• Be considerate to other patients by following non-smoking policies, respecting the privacy of others, maintaining civil language, and helping control noise levels and disturbances. Be considerate and respectful of Witham Health Services’ patients, personnel and property.

Please Note: Family or surrogate decision maker(s) will be responsible if the patient is unable to understand these responsibilities.