Baptist Health believes it’s important for you to take an active part in your healthcare. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals, and to promote the sanctity and preservation of life, in the communities we serve. By becoming familiar with your Patient Rights and Responsibilities, you can better participate in your care and act as a vital part of the healthcare team. If you have any questions or concerns about your rights and responsibilities, please call any of the numbers listed on the back.
Patient Rights
As a patient you have the right to:
- Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity, and with protection of his or her need for privacy.
- Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
- Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
- Know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.
- Know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
- Be given by the healthcare provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
- Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
- Be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his or her care.
- Know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the healthcare provider or healthcare facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if eligible for Medicare.
- Receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
- Receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill and, upon request, have the charges explained.
- Receive impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
- Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
- Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and give consent or refusal to participate in such research.
- Express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the healthcare provider or healthcare facility and to the appropriate state licensing agency.
At Baptist Health
we believe it’s important for you to:
- Bring any person of your choosing to the patient-accessible areas of the healthcare facility to accompany you while receiving treatment, unless doing so would risk your safety or health, other patients or staff, or cannot be reasonably accommodated.
- Have a family member or representative of your choice informed when you are admitted to the hospital.
- Have your family take part in decision making with permission from you or your surrogate.
- Receive an explanation about why a transfer to another facility might be needed, or what other options you may have (the other facility must agree to accept you before the transfer can occur).
- Be informed by your healthcare provider of continuing healthcare requirements after your discharge.
- Participate in decisions about your care at the end of life with attention to your physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs.
- Participate in the process to address any potential ethical issues concerning your care. You may always ask to speak to a leader at any of our facilities.
- Access protective services if you feel you are in physical danger, or have been abused, neglected, or exploited by anyone, including family members, visitors, other patients, staff, students, or volunteers. If you need protective services, please ask to speak with a social worker.
Baptist Health is committed to addressing your concerns about patient care and safety. Contact Baptist Health's Office of Patient Experience or write or call the Agency for Healthcare Administration, Consumer Assistance Unit, 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Phone: 888-419-3456.
DNV Healthcare, the accrediting agency for Baptist Health hospitals and outpatient centers, can be contacted at www.dnvhealthcareportal.com/patient-complaint-report.
Patient Responsibilities
As a patient, you are responsible for:
- Providing to the healthcare provider, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health.
- Reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the healthcare provider.
- Reporting to the healthcare provider whether he or she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him or her.
- Following the treatment plan recommended by the healthcare provider.
- Keeping appointments and, when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, notifying the healthcare provider or healthcare facility.
- Being responsible for his or her actions if he or she refuses treatment or does not follow the healthcare provider’s instructions.
- Assuring that the financial obligations of his or her healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
- Following healthcare facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
In addition, at Baptist Health you are responsible for:
- Giving thoughtful consideration to your wishes about end-of-life care and communicating those wishes through advance directives.
- Providing accurate insurance and payment information to the entity and healthcare provider at the time of registration or service.
- Displaying respectful behavior toward other patients and entity personnel, as well as their respective property.
- Safeguarding your belongings (valuables should be sent home or to the Security Office).
References:
- Florida Statute
- DNV Healthcare
- Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
If you have questions or concerns about your rights and responsibilities, please call the Office of Patient Experience, or after hours dial “0” and ask for the nursing supervisor.