Sunnyside Community Hospital (SCH) respects your rights as a patient, recognizing that each patient is an individual with unique health care needs. Because of the importance of respecting each patient's personal dignity, the hospital strives to provide considerate, respectful care focused upon each patient's individual needs.

As a patient at SCH, you have options for your care and treatment. Your doctors and other health care professionals will offer information and advice concerning appropriate, comprehensive medical care. At the same time, we realize that any stresses of worry, concern and discomfort may make understanding information and coming to decisions more difficult. As your caregivers, we will do our best to ensure a process that will enable you to make the decisions which are best for you, including the decision to discontinue treatment, to the extent permitted by law.

It is SCH's obligation and privilege to assist you in exercising your rights as a patient, and to inform you of responsibilities incumbent upon you in exercising your rights.

SCH has written policies regarding your rights as a patient and has procedures which implement these policies.

You have a right...

Equal Treatment

To impartial access to treatment regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference or source of payment for their care.

Confidential Information

To confidentiality of information, within the limits of the law.

Privacy

To personal privacy consistent with the health care considerations of your care.

Ethics Committee

To participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in your care. You have a right to know the Hospital has in place a mechanism for the evaluation of ethical issues arising in your care.

Patient Grievance

To present grievances with respect to perceived infringement of the rights described or concerning any other matter, to designated staff at the Hospital.

Any member of the Hospital staff and management will respond to your concerns. SCH has established a process to promptly address patient complaints. To file a complaint related to patient rights, please contact the Customer Service Director at 837-1627. After 5:00 p.m., on weekends or a holiday, you may contact the House Supervisor through the nursing staff. These Hospital staff will coordinate a timely review of and response to your concerns.

To express complaints or concerns with the knowledge that doing so will not impede your care.

Restraint and Seclusion

To be free from physical restraint or seclusion except in circumstances in which there is a substantial risk of imminent harm to you to themselves or others. The least restrictive means of effective restraint will be initiated first.

Worship

To the opportunity for religious worship. No patient will be coerced into engaging in any religious activities against his/her wishes.

Personal Belongings

To keep and use your personal possessions consistent with the available space, governing safety regulations, restrictions on noise and restrictions on possession of contraband material, drugs and medications. To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment. The Hospital cannot be responsible for these or any personal items kept by you while you are a patient here.

Research Participation

To receive information of any human experimentation or other research/education projects affecting your care or treatment and to give consent or refuse to participate in experimental research.

Informed Consent

To be given information concerning diagnosis planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis in terms you may be reasonably expected to understand. To receive a complete explanation of the need for a transfer - and the alternatives - to another facility or organization before being transferred.

Billing

To receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable bill and, upon request, have the itemized charges explained.

Services

To know what support services are available, including translation services and audio devices if you do not speak English, or have a hearing impairment. To have the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of financial resources for your care.

Safety

To expect reasonable safety in the healthcare system's practices and environment. To be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.

Advance Directives

To indicate your medical decisions (including end-of-life care and termination of resuscitation efforts) in writing. To designate a surrogate health care decision-maker (someone who makes health care decisions for you if you are unconscious or incapacitated) to the extent permitted by law. To know that the provision of care is not conditioned on the existence of an Advance Directive.

Information

To know, if you are eligible for Medicare. Upon request and in advance of treatment, to know whether a healthcare provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate. To obtain complete and current information concerning your diagnosis. To an explanation of care using clear, simple language (translators will be provided when requested). To communicate freely and privately with persons outside the facility, including government officials, attorneys and clergy. To access information contained in your medical record, within the limits of the law (or equivalent access by your legally designated representative). To know the identity and professional status of all providers of services to you, and to know which physician or practitioner is primarily responsible for your care.

Visitations

To visits within the Hospital established visiting hours and guidelines. You have the right to refuse visitors.

Refusal of Treatment

To refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed by your physician of the possible consequences of your refusal.

Confidentiality

To have your medical record read only by individuals involved in your care, or by individuals who are monitoring the quality of your care, or by individuals authorized by laws or regulation. (Other individuals may read the medical record only with the patient's written consent or that of a legally authorized representative.)

You have a responsibility...

If you have any questions or concerns regarding patient rights and responsibilities, please talk to your doctor or the staff member providing your care. You may also wish to contact the Customer Service Director by calling 837-1627, or the hospital Chief Executive Officer by calling 837-1650.