Download Supporting the Rights of Our Patients

Page 1 of 2: Patient Rights
**DRAFT**
Helpful advice and answers to Joint Commission survey questions are provided here to help staff prepare for
survey.
Supporting the Rights of Our Patients
Patients’ care, treatment and services should always be provided in a way that respects and fosters dignity,
autonomy, positive self-regard, civil rights, and the involvement of patients and their families in their care.
How will this Chapter be surveyed?
Patients have a right to considerate care that safeguards their personal dignity and is respectful of their cultural,
social and spiritual values. These values often influence patients’ perception of care and illness. Understanding
and respecting those values guides the providers of care in meeting the patients’ needs and preferences.
Each of the Joint Commission surveyors will look for evidence and situations that support patients’ rights as they
visit the medical center.
What printed materials should all care areas have available?
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Printed materials appropriate to the type of care the department provides
A Guide for Patients and Visitors
Healthcare Proxy Information
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Patient
Notice of Privacy Practices
Inpatient Welcome Guide in the appropriate language for the patient
Information available in multiple languages
What information and how should it be contained in the patients’ chart?
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Any hand-written information is signed, dated and legible
All electronic record information is signed
Applicable Patient Safety Goals are documented including no prohibited abbreviations
All written consents, applicable to the presenting patient, including Informed Consent; Anesthesia Consent;
Screenings, when applicable, including Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, Child Abuse, Disabled Person’s
Abuse, Functional Testing, Pain Screen and Nutritional Screen
Health Care Proxy /Advance Directives information in chart and explained to the patient
How do patients receive information about the person(s) responsible for their care, treatment, and
services?
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Employees are visibly wearing BIDMC ID badges
The practitioner identifies themselves to the patient and what role they will have in their treatment
Each care provider role is described in the Welcome Guide materials
What are the rights of patients?
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To receive care regardless of race, creed, religion nation origin or source of payment
To be treated with respect, dignity, privacy and with confidentiality of all information about their care.
To receive all information necessary to make decisions about their care including refusal of any care or
treatment method
To access their medical record information
To not be exposed to any abuse, or harassment hazard in their care environment.
To access financial counseling that is available to them within the Medical Center
To be in a smoke-free environment
To express any concern they may have to patient representatives and regulatory agencies
Page 2 of 2: Patient Rights
How do we ensure a patient’s privacy and confidentiality of patient information?
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We ensure patient privacy by never discussing a patient or his/her care in any public area such as in an
elevator or public hallways where conversations may be overheard.
We always use a cover sheet on a fax and identify the recipient. If we fax any identifying patient
information, we ensure it is received by the intended party.
We ensure any identifying patient information is not left in view or unattended in any public area such as
on a registration desk, nursing unit countertop, outside an exam room with the information not turned
over or shielded, or on a computer screen.
We do not discuss a patient’s personal information with anyone unless they are involved in the care of
the patient
We do not leave any identifying patient information on a computer screen or a view box such as in a
radiology imaging area.
We make sure that any patient information is disposed of in the blue bins for shredding not in regular
wastebaskets.
How do we respect a patient’s dignity?
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We provide patients with private areas to change their clothes. We draw the curtains around the
patient’s bed when attending to him/her.
We provide a private area to speak with a patient about personal information or medical condition.
We are polite and professional in our interactions with patients and their family.
How do we involve patients in their care decisions?
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We explain and document as fully as possible all interventions and treatments that are intended for the
patient, including any alternatives that may be considered and the patient’s preferences.
We obtain consent from the patient for specific treatments, procedures or the use for blood and certain
medications.
We obtain any advance directives from a patient prior to treating the patient, such as the name for the
healthcare proxy, end-of-life requests, and request for organ/tissue donation.
We consider the patient’s religious, cultural or ethnic preferences as they may relate to their care.
We listen and respect patient’s decisions.
How do we address cultural, ethnic or language needs of the patients?
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We assess patient references related to cultural or ethnic needs, such as food preference or restrictions,
rituals associated with death or other cultural traditions and make every effort to provide for these
preferences in the care of the patient
We have information and instructional material available in several languages.
We have interpreter services that are available to all departments.
We have resources for the blind and deaf patients to communicate effectively.