Hospital Patients

Knowing your patient rights

The Patient, Parent or Guardian
  1. HAS THE RIGHT to be informed of the patient’s rights at the time of admission and in advance of furnishing or discontinuing care.
  2. HAS THE RIGHT to receive assistance from a family member, representative, or other individual in understanding, protecting or exercising the patient’s rights.
  3. HAS THE RIGHT to care in a comfortable environment with respect to privacy, dignity and his/her personal values, beliefs, choices, strengths and abilities under the supervision of competent, qualified, and experienced clinical staff.
  4. HAS THE RIGHT to make informed decisions regarding all aspects of his/her medical care, including the decision to accept, refuse or limit treatment, to the extent permitted by law, to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her action, and to delegate his/her right to make informed decisions to another person.
  5. HAS THE RIGHT to participate in the development, periodic review, and implementation of his/her individualized plan of care/program plan and to be informed of his/her health status, including diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, in terms that he/she can understand.
  6. HAS THE RIGHT to receive from his/her physician information necessary to give specific informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for specific informed consent should include, but not be limited to, the specific procedure(s) and/or treatment, alternatives to the medical procedure(s) and/or treatment, associated risks, and possible complications.
  7. HAS THE RIGHT to be informed about outcomes of care whenever those outcomes differ significantly from the anticipated outcomes.
  8. HAS THE RIGHT to have pain assessed and managed when admitted and throughout patient’s healthcare hospitalization.
  9. HAS THE RIGHT to be free from restraint or seclusion, of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff. Restraint or seclusion may only be imposed to ensure the immediate physical safety of the patient, a staff member or others and must be the least restrictive method and discontinued at the earliest possible time.
  10. HAS THE RIGHT to expect that the healthcare facility will provide a mechanism whereby the patient is informed by the physician or an agent of the physician of a referral or transfer to another facility when medically appropriate, or of discharge plans, including any continuing healthcare requirements following the patient’s discharge.
  11. HAS THE RIGHT to make an informed decision on whether to participate in an investigative study, research project, experimental treatment, clinical trial or educational activity related to his/her care or treatment. A refusal to participate will not compromise access to service.
  12. HAS THE RIGHT to have a family member or representative of his/her choice and his/her physician notified as soon as can be reasonably expected of the patient’s admission to the healthcare facility. The patient has the right to have access to a phone, and involve or exclude family members from care decisions.
  13. HAS THE RIGHT to formulate advance directives and to have healthcare facility staff and physicians comply with these directives.
  14. HAS THE RIGHT to participate and to assist in resolving ethical issues or dilemmas that arise in his/her care (i.e., issues of conflict resolution, provision of futile care, withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, etc.).
  15. HAS THE RIGHT to prompt resolution of a grievance. The healthcare facility will not retaliate against a patient or representative for filing a grievance with either the healthcare facility, Arizona Department of Health Services, or Office of Civil Rights. Please notify your care providers of unmet care needs, care concerns, or discrimination. If your needs or concerns are not met, you may request to speak with a Patient Relations Representative (FMC dial 928-213-6561 ext: 16561; VVMC, Sedona or Camp Verde Campus – 928-639-6263 ext: 36263) and/or file a grievance with the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Medical Facilities Licensing, 150 N. 18th Ave., 4th Floor, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. Phone: 602-364-3030 and/or for Medicare beneficiaries, the Web site for the Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: https://www.medicare.gov/claims-appeals/how-to-file-a-complaint-grievance. Civil rights complaints may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, electronically through the Office of Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington D.C. 20201 or 1-800-368-1019 or 800-537-7697 (TDD).
  16. HAS THE RIGHT to receive care in a safe and secure healthcare facility environment and to be free from all forms of discrimination, abuse or harassment from staff, other patients or visitors.
  17. HAS THE RIGHT to review the patient’s own medical record, as permitted by law. To confidentiality with respect to communications and records regarding his/her healthcare and to access the information, as permitted by law, in the medical record. The healthcare facility’s Notice of Privacy Practices describes how the healthcare facility can use and disclose protected health information, the patient’s rights under the HIPAA Privacy Standards, and the healthcare facility’s legal duties regarding protected health information.
  18. HAS THE RIGHT to obtain a schedule of healthcare facility healthcare facility rates and charges, examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.
  19. HAS THE RIGHT to obtain information regarding the relationship of the healthcare facility to other healthcare providers, education institutions, and payers, as far as his/her care is concerned.
  20. HAS THE RIGHT to know what healthcare facility rules and regulations apply to patient’s conduct.
  21. HAS THE RIGHT to a full explanation of any restrictions, including clinical restrictions, placed by the healthcare facility on a patient’s visitors, mail, telephone calls or other forms of communication.
  22. HAS THE RIGHT to access protective services. Local community protective service agencies may assist patient in determining whether protective services are needed and how to correct hazardous living conditions or situations.
  23. HAS THE RIGHT, subject to his or her consent (which may be withdrawn at any time), to receive the visitors whom he or she designates, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), another family member or a friend.
Patient’s/Patient Representative’s Responsibilities
  1. IS RESPONSIBLE for providing, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about the patient’s healthcare status including current copies of Advance Directives that include: Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, Mental Health Care Power of Attorney, Prehealthcare facility Medical Care Directive, and Consent for Patient Representative.
  2. IS RESPONSIBLE for reporting perceived risks in the patient’s care and unexpected changes in the patient’s condition.
  3. IS RESPONSIBLE for following the care, service or treatment plan developed. The patient/representative should express any concerns or questions about his/her ability to follow and comply with the proposed care plan.
  4. IS RESPONSIBLE for following the healthcare facility’s rules and regulations concerning patient care and conduct and for being considerate of the healthcare facility’s personnel and property.
  5. IS RESPONSIBLE for providing, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information to allow payment of healthcare facility’s charges and, as applicable, for promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the healthcare facility.
  6. IS RESPONSIBLE to notify his/her care providers of unmet care needs or care concerns.
Behavioral Health Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

In addition to the other listed patient rights and responsibilities, patients receiving treatment at a behavioral health site have the following rights and responsibilities:

  1. HAS THE RIGHT to provision of services within the least restrictive environment possible.
  2. HAS THE RIGHT to an individualized treatment or program plan.
  3. HAS THE RIGHT to a periodic review of the treatment or program plan.
  4. HAS THE RIGHT to an adequate number of competent, qualified and experienced professional clinical staff to supervise and carry out the treatment plan.