Summary of Patient Rights and Ethics Issues

At Galesburg Cottage Hospital, we follow established policies and procedures that support the individual rights of each patient. The following is information about your rights and responsibilities as a patient, your option of writing Advance Directives, registering a complaint or concern about any aspect of your care, and the role of our Ethics Advisory group.

Throughout this information, references to patient rights and responsibilities also apply to the patient's parents, guardians, custodians, agents or surrogates in all cases where used.

Patient Bill of Rights

In summary, as a patient at Cottage Hospital, you have the following rights:

You have the right to make decisions regarding your health care together with your physician.
You have the right to accept medical care or to refuse medical treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.
You have the right to considerate and respectful care.
You are entitled to all patient rights without regard to sexual, cultural, economic, educational, or religious background or the source of payment for your care.
You have the right to receive care in a safe setting, free from verbal or physical abuse or harassment. Each person involved in your care will protect your privacy as much as possible.
You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
You have the right to protective services if needed.
You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

Patient Responsibilities

The care you receive depends, partially on you. As a patient in our hospital, you have the following responsibilities:

You are responsible for providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information concerning your present condition, past medical history and other matters relating to your health.
You are responsible for informing your attending physician about any medications, vitamins and/or herbs you have been taking recently and about other physicians who may have treated you in the past.
You are responsible for making it known if you clearly comprehend the course of your medical treatment and what is expected of you.
You are responsible for reporting unexpected changes in your condition to the attending nurse or physician.
You are responsible for following the treatment plan established by your physician, including the instruction of nurses and other healthcare professionals, as they carry out your physician's orders.
You are responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying the hospital or physician when you are unable to do so.
You are responsible for your actions should you refuse treatment or not follow your doctor's orders.
You are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of your hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
You are responsible for following hospital policies and procedures.
You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients in the hospital in the following ways: by respecting a roommate's privacy; by limiting visits from friends and family to reasonable lengths of time; by reminding guests to maintain a quiet atmosphere; by observing the no smoking regulations; and by using the telephone, television, and lights in a manner that is not disturbing to others.

Advance Directives

All healthcare facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs are required to ask each incoming patient if he or she has an Advance Directive. The facility must also document the patient's answer and offer information about state laws and the facility's policy regarding Advance Directives. Advance Directives allow patients to express their wishes about what medical treatment they do and do not want.

A separate handout on the Patient Self-Determination Act and Advance Directives will be given to you upon admission. Galesburg Cottage Hospital will accept and honor Advance Directives and, upon receipt of these documents, will place a copy in your medical record.

Resolving Conflicts and Patient Complaints

Our goal is to provide you with quality health care and to treat you and your family with dignity and compassion. We encourage you to let us know of any concerns you have about your care or medical treatment. We will make every effort to promptly resolve any complaint you may have.

Any hospital patient, family member or guardian may present a complaint or concern in connection with their care to the appropriate personnel. If you are not sure who to contact, you should ask to speak with the clinical manager. When a complaint is reported, a Galesburg Cottage Hospital complaint form will be completed and all action taken to resolve the situation will be documented.

Patients and/or family members who present a complaint or concern should be aware that the presentation of such concerns will not adversely impact on the care of service provided by the hospital.

Ethics Process

At Galesburg Cottage Hospital, we have an obligation to respect the wishes of each patient, or the patient's representative, when ethical issues arise during the provision of care. An Ethics Forum has been established to assure that healthcare ethics issues receive the attention they deserve.

The Ethics Forum serves in an advisory capacity for healthcare providers within the hospital. The group reviews areas related to ethical values affecting treatment decisions and makes recommendations for appropriate policies in the provision of patient care. The group will also be made aware of any complaints regarding the violation of patient rights.

In addition to the Ethics Forum, Case Managers are available as a resource to assist families in trying to make ethical decisions regarding care.