Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights
As a patient at Mercy Medical Center, you are guaranteed the following rights.

Each patient has the right to:

Reasonable access of care based upon their request or need regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, age, diagnosis or source of payment. Mercy Medical Center provides care that is within our capacity, our mission and philosophy and applicable rules and regulations. When we cannot meet the request or need for care because of a conflict with the mission or philosophy or incapacity to meet the patient's needs or request, the patient may be transferred to another facility when medically permissible. Transfer will only be made after the patient has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer.

Care appropriate to his/her age, development and disease process. The rights and responsibilities of neonate, child and adolescent patients and of their parents or guardians have been addressed in the Neonate, Child, and Adolescent Services policy.

Considerate and respectful care and to be treated with honesty and dignity. Consideration will be given to the psychosocial, spiritual and cultural variables that influence the perceptions of care provided. Each patient will be allowed to express his or her spiritual beliefs and cultural practices that do not harm others or interfere with the planned course of medical therapy.

Information at the time of admission about the hospital's patient rights policy and all rights and rules and regulations governing his/her conduct and responsibilities as a patient of the facility.

Be treated equally and to be fully informed of all services provided by the facility and any charges for those services.

The information necessary to enable him/her to make treatment decisions that reflect his/her wishes.

To make decisions involving his/her health care (in collaboration with his/her physician), including managing pain effectively, and to accept medical care or to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.

Formulate an advance directive and appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law, as outlined in the administrative policy on Advance Directives.

Have a guardian, next of kin, or legally authorized responsible person with the right to exercise the rights delineated on behalf of the patient if the patient has been adjudicated incompetent in accordance with the law, is found by his/her physician to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment or procedure, is unable to communicate his/her wishes regarding treatment, or is a minor.

Participate, or designate a representative to participate, in the consideration of ethical issues that arise including conflict resolution and withholding and/or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.

Expect that the comfort and dignity of the dying patient will be assured. This can be accomplished through treatment of the primary and secondary symptoms that respond to treatment as desired by the patient or surrogate decision-maker, effective pain management, and acknowledgement of the psychosocial and spiritual concerns of the patient and family regarding dying and the expression of grief.

Privacy in treatment, in care, and in fulfillment of personal needs as well as during visits by his/her spouse, family, clergy, attorney and others.

Confidential handling of his/her medical or personal records. This information will only be released with the patient's prior consent except as required by law, or under third party contracts, or in case of transfer to another facility.

Access to the information contained in their medical record, within the limits of the law.

Be free of physical, chemical and mental restraints or abuse. Restraints will only be used under written physician's orders for a specific limited period of time, except in the case of an emergency as determined by qualified nursing personnel.

Be informed of any human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting his/her care or treatment and the right to refuse to participate in experimental research.

Not be relocated within the facility arbitrarily. Any relocation decision will be based upon the patient's age, development, medical therapy, and ability of the institution to provide these services.

Exercise his/her rights as a patient and citizen and may voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to facility staff or to outside representatives of his/her choice, free from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.

Assurance of reasonable safety within the hospital.

Knowledge of the identity and professional status of physicians and health professionals providing treatment and services to the patient.

Obtain information and explanation of bill for services through Mercy Medical Center. The business office staff is available to clarify billing statements.

Access protective services as needed including guardianship, advocacy, conservatorship, and ombudsman program.

Be informed about the outcomes of care. Patients are informed about the outcomes of any treatments or procedures whenever those outcomes differ significantly from the anticipated outcomes.

Patient Responsibilities

As a patient of Mercy Medical Center you have the following responsibilities:

Provide accurate and complete information regarding health status.

Follow the recommended treatment plan or be responsible for the medical consequences resulting from refusal. Talk to your caregiver if there are questions about the treatment plan.

Participate in your plan of care and discharge plans.

Abide by hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct and be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.

Fulfill the patient's financial obligations as soon as possible following discharge.

Patients are encouraged to direct all concerns and grievances to the unit supervisor or to Mercy's Customer Relations Representative at extension 3575 or to:

Mercy Health Network ALERTLINE©
1-866-477-4661
Or Department of Inspection and Appeals
Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
Phone: 1-877-686-0027 (toll free)