Patient Bill of Rights
Acute & Skilled Care Patients
Your health care at Story County Medical Center is a cooperative effort
between you, your physician and the Medical Center staff. This facility
maintains policies, procedures and ongoing programs to ensure that all
personnel protect the following rights of each patient.
Notice of Rights
Each patient has the right to be informed orally and in writing in a
language that the patient understands of all of the patient's legal rights
at the time of admission and to be kept informed of changes in these rights.
Receipt of such information, and any amendments to it, must be acknowledged
in writing. The patient has a right to periodic review of information
pertaining to rights. Each patient has the right to be informed of any other
rights and rules and regulations governing his or her conduct and
responsibilities as a patient of the facility.
Each patient has the right to be fully informed of all services provided
by the facility, services that the patient may be charged with, the amount
of the charge, and services for which the patient may not be charged, and
any charges for those services and any adjustments made in the same. Each
patient has access to and an may request an explanation to patient billings.
If eligible for financial assistance the patient has the right to be
informed of those services for which the patient will or will not be charged
and the amount of such charges.
Each patient has the right to be informed orally and in writing in a
language that the patient understands about how to apply for and use
financial assistance, and how to receive refunds for previous payments
covered by such benefits. All rights and responsibilities of the patient
devolve to the patient's next-of-kin, guardian, or sponsoring agency(ies)
where the patient is adjudicated incompetent pursuant to law. This statement
contains the general rights of each patient and is not all-inclusive.
Specific provisions implementing these general rights are included in the
facility's policies and procedures, which are available upon request.
Exercise of Rights
Each patient will have access to treatment regardless of race, color,
creed, sex, beliefs, national origin, age, diagnosis, handicap, or of
payment for care.
Each patient has the right to considerate and respectful care and to be
treated with honesty, dignity, respect and with reasonable accommodation of
individual needs except where the health, safety, or rights of the
individual or other patients would be endangered. It is recognized that
every patient is an individual who has feelings, preferences, personal needs
and requirements.
Each patient has the right to retain and use personal possessions,
including some furnishings, and appropriate clothing, as space permits
unless to do so would infringe upon the rights or health and safety of other
patients.
Each patient will not be relocated within the facility, arbitrarily. Each
patient, and if known, the patient's legal representative or interested
family member has the right to receive notice before the patient's room or
roommate in the facility is changed.
Each patient has the right to examine upon reasonable request the results
of the most recent survey of the facility conducted by a federal or state
agency as well as any plan of correction which exists with respect to the
facility. Each patient has the right to receive information from agencies
acting as client advocates, and be afforded the opportunity to contact these
agencies.
Each patient has the right to consult with a specialist at the patient's
request and expense, to choose his or her physician, and to have his or her
physician and legal representative or interested family member notified
within 24 hours (except when a medical emergency makes this impossible or
impractical or when the patient is adjudged incompetent) if the patient is
involved in an accident resulting in injury, there is a significant change
in the patient's condition, the patient's treatment needs to be changed
significantly, or a decision is made involving a change in the patient
rights under federal or state laws or regulations.
Each patient has the right to choose and know the identity of the
physician or other practitioner primarily responsible for their care as well
as the identity and professional status of others providing services to them
while in the hospital.
Each patient has the right to be fully informed in advance in language
that the patient understands about care and treatment or any changes in such
that may affect the patient's well-being. Each patient not adjudged
incompetent also has the right to participate in the planning of and changes
in the patient's total care and medical treatment and to make choices based
upon the information provided.
Each patient has the right to know the information regarding his or her
medical condition unless medically contraindicated.
Each patient has the right to formulate an advance directive.
Each patient has the right to refuse to participate in experimental
research and has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by
law and to be informed of medical consequences of such reprisal.
Each patient has the right to self-administer drugs unless the
interdisciplinary team has determined for each patient that this practice is
unsafe.
Each patient has the right to be treated according to the same policies
and practices regarding transfer, discharge, and the provision of services
under the state plan for all individuals regardless of source of payment.
The patient has the right to continuity of care and is transferred or
discharged only for the patient's welfare when the patient's needs cannot be
met in the facility, if the safety or health of individuals in the facility
is endangered, as a result of improved health so that the patient no longer
needs the services provided by the facility, if the facility ceases to
operate, or after reasonable and appropriate notice, for nonpayment for the
patient's stay (except as prohibited by third party contracts).
- In the event discharge or transfer becomes necessary, the patient
has the right to sufficient preparation and orientation to ensure a safe
transition from the facility, and will be given at least 30 days advance
notice except in the case of emergency circumstances, the health or
safety of other patients in the facility would be endangered, where the
patient has not resided in the facility for 30 days, the patient’s
health improves sufficiently to allow a more immediate transfer or
discharge, or the patient’s urgent medical needs require more immediate
transfer and when the patient has not resided in the facility for 30
days.
- The patient's physician will document the transfer.
- Notice of transfer: The facility will notify the patient and if
known, a family member or legal representative of the patient, of the
transfer or discharge and the reasons for the move in a written letter
signed by Administration and reviewed by the Medical Center's attorney.
The letter shall be in a language and manner they understand. The
advance notice will be recorded and include the reason for the
transfer/discharge; the effective date of the transfer/discharge; the
location to which the patient will be transferred or discharged (if
known); the statement that the patient has the right to appeal the
action to the State; and the name address and telephone number of the
state long term care ombudsman. The letter shall also include the
following advocacy agencies, their address, and telephone number, if the
patient has the following diagnosis:
- Mental Illness: Alliance for the Mentally Ill; Story County
Community Life
- Developmental Disability: Iowa Protection/Advocacy; Story County
Community Life
Each patient has the right for notice, agency hearing, and the provision
of counseling and discharge planning prior to any involuntary discharge or
transfer, Notice of transfer or discharge shall contain the name, address
and telephone number of the state long-term care ombudsman. Other
requirements of notice may apply for patients who have developmental
disabilities or who are mentally ill.
Each patient has the right to have the patient's bed held under
designated circumstances and upon payment of the prescribed charge for the
bed. Each patient and a family member or legal representative has the right
to receive written information explaining the designated circumstances and
relevant policies. If a patient's transfer or therapeutic leave exceeds the
state approved bed-hold policy and the patient continues to require the
services of the facility after hospitalization or therapeutic leave and is
eligible for financial assistance, such patient shall be re-admitted to the
facility as soon as a bed in a semi-private room becomes available.
Each patient has the right not to be discriminated against by the
facility in any way based on the patient’s source of payment. Nor can the
facility charge, solicit, accept or receive as a precondition of admission,
expedited admission, or continued stay in the facility under the state plan,
anything of value, over and above what is lawfully required to be paid. The
facility may require individuals having legal access to patient’s income or
resources available to pay for facility care to sign a contract, without
incurring personal financial liability, to provide the facility payment.
Privacy and Safety
Each patient has the right of reasonable safety within the hospital; to
be free from physical, verbal, sexual or mental abuse, corporal punishment,
involuntary seclusion, and any physical restraints or psychoactive drugs
administered for purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to
treat the patient medical symptoms unless pursuant to written physician's
orders for a specific limited period of time to ensure the physical safety
of the patient or other patients or as a result of certain emergency
circumstances established under federal law.
Each patient has the right to privacy in accommodations, visits with
spouse, treatment, personal care, written and telephone communications. Each
patient has the right to privacy in fulfillment of personal needs as well as
during meetings of patient groups, visits by the patient's spouse, family,
clergy, attorney and others, but this does not require the facility to
provide a private room. If a patient’s spouse is also a patient and both
spouses consent to the arrangement, they may share a room provided
accommodations are available.
Each patient has the right to communicate, associate, and meet publicly
and privately with any persons of the patient's choice, unless to do so
would infringe upon the rights of other patients, or if contraindicated and
documented by the patient's physician (or if appropriate, a Qualified
Mental Retardation Professional) in the patient's medical records.
Each patient has the right to privacy in written communications,
including the right to send promptly and receive promptly unopened mail and
have access to stationary, postage and writing implements at the patient's
own expense. Each patient has the right to have reasonable, regular access
to a telephone to receive and place confidential calls.
Confidentiality and Patient Records
Each patient has the right of access to and confidential handling of the
patient's medical or personal records as provided by law. This information
will only be released to an individual outside the facility with the
patient's prior consent except as required by law, or under third party
payment contracts, or in the case of transfer to another health care
institution. Each patient has the right to inspect and purchase photocopies
of all records pertaining to the patient, upon written request and 2 hours
notice to the facility. Each patient has the right to be fully informed in
language that he or she can understand of his or her total health status,
including but not limited to, his or her medical condition.
Patient Responsibilities
Each patient has the following responsibilities:
- Each patient should provide accurate and complete information
regarding his or her health status.
- Each patient should follow recommended treatment plans.
- Each patient should abide by hospital rules and regulations
affecting patient care and conduct and be considerate of the rights of
other patient s and hospital personnel.
- Each patient should fulfill his or her financial obligations as soon
as possible following discharge.
Money and Property
Each patient has the right to manage his or her own personal finances, or
if he or she so chooses, to designate another party to manage them for him
or her. The facility may not require patients to deposit their personal
funds with the facility. The facility will maintain patient personal funds
of less than $50.00 in a non-interest bearing account of petty cash fund if
requested by the patient. Patient funds will not be commingled with facility
funds or the funds of any other person. The facility may not impose a charge
against the personal funds of a patient for any item or service for which
payment is made under financial assistance. Upon the death of a patient with
a personal fund deposited with the facility, the facility must convey
promptly the patient's funds, and a final accounting of those funds, to the
individual administering the patient's estate.
Each patient or his or her legal representative has the right to have
reasonable access to his or her financial record and to have the financial
record made available on request to the patient or his or her legal
representative.
Grievance Procedures
Each patient has the right to file a complaint with a state survey and
certification agencies respecting patient treatment, abuse, neglect and
misappropriation of patient property in the facility without fear of
reprisal or discrimination for voicing the grievances. Each patient has the
right to prompt efforts by the facility to resolve grievances the patient
may have, including those with respect to the behavior of other patients. In
the case of a patient adjudged incompetent under state law by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the rights of the patient will be exercised by the
person appointed under state law to act on the patient’s behalf.
Concerns
You may express concerns by:
- Writing comments on impatient or outpatient patient surveys.
- Expressing concerns directly to care givers in charge of patient
care.
- Contacting a State agency directly regardless of whether or not the
hospital grievance system is used.
- Requesting formal action.
The Medical Center Administrator or Associate Administrator must be
notified for formal action and investigation of a grievance. This may be
done by writing letters to Administration at 640 S. 19th Street, Nevada,
Iowa, 50201 or calling and asking to speak to Administration at (515)
382-2111. Upon receipt of a concern, administration has the responsibility
to review, investigate and respond to the party initiating the grievance.
This investigation will be initiated within 48 hours of notification of the
concern. A written notice of administrations decision containing the name of
the medical center contact person, steps taken to investigate the grievance,
results of the grievance process, and the completion date will be sent to
the party initiating the concern. This response will occur within two weeks
of the initial complaint.
Groups and Activities
Each patient is encourage to participate at the patient's discretion in
social, religious and community group activities that do not interfere with
the rights of other patients in the facility unless contraindicated by the
patient's physician (or, if appropriate, a Qualified Mental Retardation
Professional) and so documented in the patient’s medical record.
Each patient has the right to self-determination and choice in
participation in activities, schedules, health care and significant aspects
of his or her life in the facility. This includes the right to organize and
participate in patient groups in the facility, and the right of the
patient’s family to meet with other patient’s families in the facility.
Each patient has the right to refuse to perform any services for the
facility or other patients. Each patient has the right to perform both
voluntary and paid service for the facility when the need or desire for work
is documented in the plan of care, which the patient has approved by
executing a formal agreement. The agreement will specify the nature of the
services and whether they are voluntary or for pay. Compensation will be
provided at a prevailing rate.
Visitors
Each patient has the right to immediate access by any representative of
the Secretary, United States Department of Health and Human Services, any
official properly acting for the state, the patients individual physician,
the state long-term care ombudsman's office and (as appropriate) other state
agencies entitled to visit with patients under federal or state law, and
members of the patients immediate family or other relatives, subject to the
patients right to deny or withdraw consent for such visits. Each patient has
the right to receive others at any reasonable hour at times other than
established visiting hours, particularly at times of critical illness
subject to the patient's right to deny or withdraw consent for such visits.