Advanced Physical Therapy

PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Rights and Responsibilities were established with the expectation that observance of these rights will contribute to more effective patient care and greater satisfaction for the patient, family, physician, and the facility caring for the patient. Patients shall have the following rights without regard to age, race, sex, national origin, religion, culture, physical handicap, personal values or belief systems.

THE PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO:

• Receive the care necessary to help regain or maintain his or her maximum state of health and, if necessary cope with death.
• Expect personnel who care for the patient to be friendly, considerate, respectful and qualified through education and experience and perform the services for which they are responsible with the highest quality of service.
• Expect full recognition of individuality, including privacy in treatment and care. In addition, all communications and records will be kept confidential.
• Complete information, to the extent known by the physician, regarding diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, as well as alternative treatments or procedures and the possible risks and side effect associated with treatment.
• Be fully informed of the scope of services available at the facility, provisions for after hours and emergency care and related fees for services rendered.
• Be a participant in decisions regarding the intensity and scope of treatment. If the patient is unable to participate in those decisions, the patient’s designated representative of other legally designated person shall exercise the patient’s rights.
• Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal. The patient accepts responsibility for his or her actions should he or she refuse treatment or not follow the instructions of the physician or facility.
• Approve or refuse the release of medical records to any individual outside the facility, except in the case of transfer to another health facility, or as required by law or third party payment contract.
• Be informed of any human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting his or her care or treatment and can refuse participation in such experimentation or research without compromise to the patient’s usual care. • Express grievances/complaints and suggestions at any time.
• Change primary or specialty physicians or dentist if other qualified physicians or dentists are available.
• Have and advance directive, such as a living will or healthcare proxy. A patient who has an advance directive must provide a copy to the facility and his or her physician so that his or her wishes may be known and honored. Surgery centers and diagnostic imaging centers may be exceptions to this statement and will have a facility-specific policy.
• Be fully informed before any transfer to another facility or organization.
• Express those spiritual beliefs and cultural practices that do not harm others or interfere with the planned course of medical therapy for the patient.

THE PATIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Being considerate of other patients and personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking and other distractions.
• Respecting the property of others and the facility.
• Reporting whether he or she clearly understands the planned course of treatment and what is expected of him or her.
• Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the facility and physician.
• Providing caregivers with the most accurate and complete information regarding present complaints, past illnesses and hospitalizations, medications, unexpected changes in the patient’s condition or any other patient health matters.
• Observing prescribed rules of the facility during his or her stay and treatment and, if instructions are not followed, forfeiting the right to care at the facility and being responsible for the outcome.
• Promptly fulfilling his/her financial obligations to the facility.